Spatial Variability of Ground Water Quality Using HCA, PCA and MANOVA at Lawspet, Puducherry in India

N Suresh Nathan,T Sundararajan,R Saravanane

doi:10.4236/cweee.2017.63017

N Suresh Nathan, T Sundararajan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/cweee.2017.63017

Copy DOI

Abstract

In ground water quality studies multivariate statistical techniques like Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Factor Analysis (FA) and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) were employed to evaluate the principal factors and mechanisms governing the spatial variations and to assess source apportionment at Lawspet area in Puducherry, India. PCA/FA has made the first known factor which showed the anthropogenic impact on ground water quality and this dominant factor explained 82.79% of the total variance. The other four factors identified geogenic and hardness components. The distribution of first factor scores portray high loading for EC, TDS, Na+ and Cl− (anthropogenic) in south east and south west parts of the study area, whereas other factor scores depict high loading for HCO3−, Mg2+, Ca2+ and TH (hardness and geogenic) in the north west and south west parts of the study area. K+ and SO42− (geogenic) are dominant in south eastern direction. Further MANOVA showed that there are significant differences between ground water quality parameters. The spatial distribution maps of water quality parameters have rendered a powerful and practical visual tool for defining, interpreting, and distinguishing the anthropogenic, hardness and geogenic factors in the study area. Further the study indicated that multivariate statistical methods have successfully assessed the ground water qualitatively and spatially with a more effective step towards ground water quality management.

Highlights

Deterioration of ground water quality due to different geogenic and anthropogenic activities is of great concern, especially in an alluvial aquifer in a coastal area like Puducherry, India [3] [4]
Eventhough, the main aim of the study was to statistically establish the spatial variability of ground water quality, it is significant to detail the current status of ground water quality so that the study will be worthwhile to the authorities who are in charge of ground water management and control
Different multivariate statistical techniques like Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA)/Factor Analysis (FA) and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) were applied in this research work to investigate the spatial variability of ground water quality and to detect the main factors and sources of contamination for effective ground water management at Lawspet area, Puducherry, India

Summary

Introduction

To sustain and maximize the benefit of this resource, knowledge about the natural hydro-geological and geo-chemical processes, as well as associated human effects on the ground water resource is a must for a comprehensive and complete scientific understanding of the vulnerability of the aquifers to pollution In this context, rapid increase in human population coupled with expanding urbanization and industrialization has led to a greater imbalance between water availability and demand [1]. Deterioration of ground water quality due to different geogenic and anthropogenic activities is of great concern, especially in an alluvial aquifer in a coastal area like Puducherry, India [3] [4] Against this background at Lawspet area in Puducherry, India, the following two human induced activities play a critical role in the ground water contamination scenario [5]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion