Factor and cluster analysis of water quality data of the groundwater wells of Kushtia, Bangladesh: Implication for arsenic enrichment and mobilization

The study area is located in the southwestern part of Bangladesh. Twenty-six groundwater samples were collected from both shallow and deep tube wells ranging in depth from 20 to 60 m. Multivariate statistical analyses including factor analysis, cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling were appl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Geological Society of India 2013-03, Vol.81 (3), p.377-384
Main Authors: Hossain, Md. Golzar, Selim Reza, A. H. M., Lutfun-Nessa, Mst, Ahmed, Syed Samsuddin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arsenic content
Cluster analysis
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Geology
Groundwater
Groundwater pollution
Hydrogeology
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Summary:The study area is located in the southwestern part of Bangladesh. Twenty-six groundwater samples were collected from both shallow and deep tube wells ranging in depth from 20 to 60 m. Multivariate statistical analyses including factor analysis, cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling were applied to the hydrogeochemical data. The results show that a few factors adequately represent the traits that define water chemistry. The first factor of Fe and HCO 3 is strongly influenced by bacterial Fe (III) reduction which would raise both Fe and HCO 3 concentrations in water. Na, Cl, Ca, Mg and PO 4 are grouped under the second factor representing the salinity sources of waters. The third factor, represented by As, Mn, SO 4 and K is related to As mobilization processes. Cluster analysis has been applied for the interpretation of the groundwater quality data. Initially Piper methods have been employed to obtain a first idea on the water types in the study area. Hierarchical cluster analysis was carried out for further classification of water types in the study area. Twelve components, namely, pH, Fe, Mn, As, Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO 3 , Cl, SO 4 and NO 3 have been used for this purpose. With hierarchical clustering analysis the water samples have been classified into 3 clusters. They are very high, high and moderately As-enriched groundwater as well as groundwater with elevated SO 4 .
ISSN:0016-7622
0974-6889
DOI:10.1007/s12594-013-0048-0