Application of Multivariate Statistical Methods to the Hydrochemical Study of Groundwater Quality in the Sahel Watershed, Algeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT The quality of groundwater is characterized by several numbers of physical and chemical parameters, which determine the use of water (water supply, irrigation, industry...). This search paper is a contribution made to know the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Sahel sub-catchment which belongs to the large Soummam North basin of Algeria. Different multivariate statistical techniques were used such as principal component analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Diagram Analysis. These analyses are exercised to a dataset formed from 37 boreholes with 12 chemical variables over the entire surface of the watershed. The samples were collected in 2016. The 37 boreholes are one of the main water resources that supply the wilaya of Bouira with drinking water and irrigation. The analysis of water quality using different methods (ACP, HCA and Diagram) resulted in two chemical kinds: (Chloride, calcium sulfate and magnesium), and (Bicarbonate calcium and magnesium). The results have shown that 74% of the boreholes were contaminated, the rest of boreholes were characterized by a good quality and they have not suffered any contamination and can be consumed without any risk.

Keywords

• water quality
• groundwater
• principal component analysis
• hydrochemical analysis
• hierarchical cluster analysis
• sahel watershed