Abstract
In the study, multivariate statistical methods including factor, principal component and cluster analysis were applied to analyze surface water quality data sets obtained from Xiangjiang watershed, and generated during 7 years (1994–2000) monitoring of 12 parameters at 34 different profiles. Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped 34 sampling sites into three clusters, including relatively less polluted (LP), medium polluted (MP) and highly polluted (HP) sites, and based on the similarity of water quality characteristics, the watershed was divided into three zones. Factor analysis/principal component analysis, applied to analyze the data sets of the three different groups obtained from cluster analysis, resulted in four latent factors accounting for 71.62%, 71.77% and 72.01% of the total variance in water quality data sets of LP, MP and HP areas, respectively. The PCs obtained from factor analysis indicate that the parameters for water quality variations are mainly related to dissolve heavy metals. Thus, these methods are believed to be valuable to help water resources managers understand complex nature of water quality issues and determine the priorities to improve water quality.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boyacioglu, H., & Boyacioglu, H. (2007). Water pollution sources assessment by multivariate statistical methods in the Tahtali Basin, Turkey. Environmental Geology, 54, 275–282.
Cao, X. Z., & Zhang, G. S. (1995). Formation and countermeasures of the vulnerable eco-environment of red soil hilly region. Rural Eco-environment, 11(4), 45–48 (In Chinese).
Carpenter, S. R., Caraco, N. E., Correll, D. L., Howarth, R. W., & Smith, V. H. (1998). Nonpoint pollution of surface waters with phosphorus and nitrogen. Ecological Applications, 8(3), 559–568.
Chapman, D. (1992). Water Quality Assessment. In: Chapman D. On behalf of UNESCO, WHO and UNEP. London: Chapman & Hall, 585.
Chen, G. H. (2005). Problems and solutions of the protection and utilization of water resources in Hunan. Journal of Hunan Economic Management College, 16(6), 3–5 (in Chinese).
Chen, Y. S., Wu, F. C., Lu, H. Z., & Yao, C. S. (2004). Analysis on the water quality changes in the Xiangjiang River from 1981 to 2000. Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, 13(5), 508–512 (in Chinese).
Hussain, M., Ahmed, S. M., & Abderrahman, W. (2008). Cluster analysis and quality assessment of logged water at an irrigation project, eastern Saudi Arabia. Journal of Environmental Management, 86(1), 297–307.
Jarvie, H. P., Whitton, B. A., & Neal, C. (1998). Nitrogen and phosphorus in east coast British rivers: speciation, sources and biological significance. Science of the Total Environment, 210/211, 79–109.
Kim, J. O., & Mueller, C. W. (1978). Introduction to factor analysis: what it is and how to do it. Quantitative applications in the social sciences series. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Liu, C. W., Lin, K. H., & Kuo, Y. M. (2003). Application of factor analysis in the assessment of groundwater quality in a Blackfoot disease area in Taiwan. Science of the Total Environment, 313, 77–89.
Lu, R. K., & Shi, Z. Y. (2000). Features and recover of degraded red soil. Soil, 4, 198–209 (In Chinese).
McGarial, K., Cushman, S., & Stafford, S. (2000). Multivariate statistics for wildlife and ecology research. New York: Springer.
Mendiguchía, C., Moreno, C., Galindo-Riaño, M. D., & García-Vargas, M. (2004). Using chemometric tools to assess anthropogenic effects in river water: A case study: Guadalquivir River (Spain). Analytica Chimica Acta, 515(1,5), 143–149.
Praus, P. (2005). Water quality assessment using SVD-based principal component analysis of hydrological data. Water SA, 31(4), 417–422.
Shrestha, S., & Kazama, F. (2007). Assessment of surface water quality using multivariate statistical techniques: A case study of the Fuji river basin, Japan. Environmental Modelling & Software, 22(4), 464–475.
Simeonov, V., Stratis, J. A., Samara, C., Zachariadis, G., Voutsa, D., Anthemidis, A., Sofoniou, M., & Kouimtzis, Th. (2003). Assessment of the surface water quality in northern Greece. Water Research, 37(17), 4119–4124.
Sun, S. Q., Hu, G. H., Wang, Y. Z., & Li, C. (2006). Water environmental health risk assessment of Xiangjiang River. Journal of Safety and Environment, 6(2), 12–15 (in Chinese).
Wang, Q. H., Wang, S. Y., & Liu, M. Y. (2004). Safety evaluation on pollution of Xiang River Valley in Hunan Province. China Water and Wastewater, 20(8), 104–106 (in Chinese).
Wu, M. L., & Wang, Y. S. (2007). Using chemometrics to evaluate anthropogenic effects in Daya Bay, China. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 72(4), 732–742.
Wunderlin, D. A., Días, M. P., AméMaría, V., Pesce, S. F., Hued, A. C., & Bistoni, M. Á. (2001). Pattern recognition techniques for the evaluation of spatial and temporal variations in water quality. A case study: Suquia river basin (Cordoba–Argentina). Water Research, 35(12), 2881–2894.
Yu, S. X., Shang, J. C., Zhao, J. S., & Guo, H. C. (2003). Factor analysis and dynamics of water quality of the Songhua River Northeast China. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 144(1–4), 159–169.
Zhou, F., Guo, H. C., Liu, Y., & Jiang, Y. M. (2007). Chemometrics data analysis of marine water quality and source identification in Southern Hong Kong. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54(6), 745–756.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, Q., Li, Z., Zeng, G. et al. Assessment of surface water quality using multivariate statistical techniques in red soil hilly region: a case study of Xiangjiang watershed, China. Environ Monit Assess 152, 123–131 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0301-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0301-y