Interpretation of the results of surface water quality applying multivariate analysis

Abstract

© 2015, Association of Chemists and Chemical Engineers of Serbia. All rights reserved. Monitoring of surface water, through the analysis of physical-chemical and chemical parameters, is a very important factor in the control of water quality and the health of living beings. The surface water quality is largely determined by the nature (atmospherics) and anthropogenic processes (discharge of municipal and industrial wastewater). The results of monitoring of surface water are usually tooe xpensive and difficult for correct interpretation, due to the spatial and temporal variations in water quality. The significant reductions of the ampleness of the available data and the better interpretation of the obtained results about the quality and ecological status/potential of water can be achieved by application of Multivariate Statistical Analysis. The selected results of the analysis of surface water in AP Vojvodina in 2011 were analyzed by using Multivariate Statistical Analysis (cluster analysis and principal components analysis) and represented in this paper. These techniques allow the interpretation of the results of the monitoring program of investigated surface water bodies and simultaneous identification of registered influence and potential sources of pollution on the quality of the given water bodies. The both methods are applied and the division of water bodies is tested in the same manner at the origin (natural and artificial) and on the basis of territorial belonging monitoring stations (Banat and Bačka). Individual variations are discussed in corresponding differences in individual measuring stations in relation to others. By application of the given method, a grouping of the examined indicators of water quality in the following factors: hydro-chemical factor, ecological factor, the factor point pollution and diffusion have been obtained. The obtained results confirm the initial hypothesis that the use of different statistical methods can identify the main factors that have an impact on the ecological status and ecological potential of water bodies and can improve the existing monitoring. In addition, the analysis of the extracted surface water bodies can be applied in cases where it is necessary to implement simultaneous monitoring of the biological quality elements to determine whether chemical parameter scan ensure the functioning of ecosystems.