Multivariate Statistical Analyses of Physicochemical Parameters in Groundwater Samples of Borinala Watershed of Aurangabad District, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the current status of groundwatersamples collected from Borinala watershed of Aurangabad district. A total of 23samples were collected and analyzed for the determination of variousphysicochemical parameters. The results of the present study established that someof the groundwater samples show slightly high pH (8%), TDS (4%), total hardness(4%), magnesium (4%) and bicarbonate (4%). This degradation of water qualityoccurred due to the agricultural practices. The order of mean levels of variousphysico-chemical parameters was found to be HCO3 > Cl > Ca > Na >Mg. Thecorrelation study revealed the strongest correlation was observed betweenconductance and sodium (ݎ= 0.980). Multivariate analysis in terms of principlecomponent analysis and cluster analysis furnished information about the sources ofvarious parameters in groundwater samples. Therefore there is need to preserve andprotect the precious groundwater resources as well as a continuous monitoring ofgroundwater resources is needed to know the quality wate