The use of multivariate statistical analysis in the assessment of groundwater hydrochemistry in some parts of southweste
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ORIGINAL PAPER
The use of multivariate statistical analysis in the assessment of groundwater hydrochemistry in some parts of southwestern Nigeria Julius Ogunmola Fatoba 1 & Oluseun Adetola Sanuade 1 & Olaide S. Hammed 2 & Wilfred W. Igboama 2
Received: 16 November 2016 / Accepted: 20 July 2017 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2017
Abstract Multivariate statistical methods including factor analysis (FA), cluster analysis (CA), and correlation analysis have been used to evaluate the spatial variations and the interpretation of a complex water quality data set of some parts of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria. Thirty water samples were collected from different stations, and 16 parameters were determined. Correlation analysis shows that the relationship between the parameters with high character of ion was higher than that of the parameters with low character of ion and that the variation in relationship shows the complexity in groundwater quality and the effect of the interactions between rock and water. Regression analysis was used for the prediction of values of one variable using the knowledge of other variables, for which more data are available. FA shows five distinct factors, which explained 84.3% of the total variance in water quality data set. The five factors are anthropogenic, ion exchange, weathering/leaching, anthropogenic, and nitrogen, which explained 28, 23, 14.2, 10.0, and 6.9% of the total variance, respectively. Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped the parameters into three major clusters. This study shows the uses of multivariate statistical methods for the interpretation of complex data sets in the analysis of spatial variations in water quality. This would therefore enhance planning for future studies.
* Oluseun Adetola Sanuade [email protected]
1
Department of Geophysics, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
2
Department of Physics, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Keywords Hydrochemistry . Groundwater quality . Multivariate statistics . Cluster analysis
Introduction The proper planning and management of groundwater require periodic monitoring of the hydrochemical characteristics of water as well as hydraulic properties of aquifer holding the groundwater. It is, however, believed that the flow of groundwater along its paths in the subsurface tends to increase the chemical properties (Kortatsi 2007). Groundwater, compared to surface water, is a purer form of water whose source is from natural resources, and it is always clear, colorless, and odorless and maintains relatively constant temperature. However, the salinity of groundwater is higher than that of surface water because subsurface water moves slowly and maintains slow contact with the strata beneath the subsurface for longer periods. Therefore, the chemical characteristics of groundwater might depict aquifer’s geological history and the suitability of such groundwater for several purposes (domestic, industrial, and agricultural). As a result of its suitability for various pur
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