Application of multivariate statistical technique for hydrogeochemical assessment of groundwater within the Lower Pra Basin, Ghana

Multivariate statistical technique and hydrogeochemical approach were employed for groundwater assessment within the Lower Pra Basin. The main objective was to delineate the main processes that are responsible for the water chemistry and pollution of groundwater within the basin. Fifty-four (54) (No...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied water science 2017-06, Vol.7 (3), p.1131-1150
Main Authors: Tay, C. K., Hayford, E. K., Hodgson, I. O. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural management
Agrochemicals
Aluminosilicates
Aluminum silicates
Aquatic Pollution
Aquifers
Boreholes
Buffer zones
Buffers (chemistry)
Comparative Law
Components
Correlation analysis
Data processing
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Environmental monitoring
Fertilizers
Groundwater
Groundwater chemistry
Hydrogeochemistry
Hydrogeology
Industrial and Production Engineering
Interactions
International & Foreign Law
Ion exchange
Nanotechnology
Organic chemistry
Original Article
pH effects
Pollution
Principal components analysis
Private International Law
Quality assessment
Quality control
Silicates
Soil
Soil water
Statistical analysis
Statistical methods
Trace metals
Waste Water Technology
Water chemistry
Water Industry/Water Technologies
Water Management
Water pollution
Water Pollution Control
Water quality
Weathering
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Summary:Multivariate statistical technique and hydrogeochemical approach were employed for groundwater assessment within the Lower Pra Basin. The main objective was to delineate the main processes that are responsible for the water chemistry and pollution of groundwater within the basin. Fifty-four (54) (No) boreholes were sampled in January 2012 for quality assessment. PCA using Varimax with Kaiser Normalization method of extraction for both rotated space and component matrix have been applied to the data. Results show that Spearman’s correlation matrix of major ions revealed expected process-based relationships derived mainly from the geochemical processes, such as ion-exchange and silicate/aluminosilicate weathering within the aquifer. Three main principal components influence the water chemistry and pollution of groundwater within the basin. The three principal components have accounted for approximately 79% of the total variance in the hydrochemical data. Component 1 delineates the main natural processes (water–soil–rock interactions) through which groundwater within the basin acquires its chemical characteristics, Component 2 delineates the incongruent dissolution of silicate/aluminosilicates, while Component 3 delineates the prevalence of pollution principally from agricultural input as well as trace metal mobilization in groundwater within the basin. The loadings and score plots of the first two PCs show grouping pattern which indicates the strength of the mutual relation among the hydrochemical variables. In terms of proper management and development of groundwater within the basin, communities, where intense agriculture is taking place, should be monitored and protected from agricultural activities. especially where inorganic fertilizers are used by creating buffer zones. Monitoring of the water quality especially the water pH is recommended to ensure the acid neutralizing potential of groundwater within the basin thereby, curtailing further trace metal mobilization processes in groundwater within the basin.
ISSN:2190-5487
2190-5495
DOI:10.1007/s13201-017-0540-6