ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Hydrochemical
Data for Shallow Ground Water Quality Factor
Identification in a Coastal Aquifer
Qingchun Yang1, Jianing Zhang1, Yanli Wang1, Yanna Fang2, Jordi Delgado Martín3
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1Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University,
Changchun 130021, P. R. China
2Monitoring Center of Geological Environment, Fujian, 350001, P. R. China
3Escuela de Ingenieros de Caminos, Universidad de A Coruña, Campus de Elviña, 15192, Spain
Submission date: 2014-07-28
Final revision date: 2014-08-27
Acceptance date: 2014-09-03
Publication date: 2015-04-02
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2015;24(2):769-776
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ABSTRACT
Multivariate statistical techniques, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis
(PCA) integrating graphical method (Piper trilinear graphical diagram) were applied to the factor identification
of ground water quality in a coastal aquifer, Fujian province, South China. Ground water samples were
collected at 12 sites in January (dry season) and July 2011 (wet season). Eleven ground water quality parameters
(pH, TH, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Cl¯, SO4
2-, HCO3¯, NO3¯, Mn) were selected in order to perform multivariate
statistical analysis. During both the past-monsoon and the summer seasons, PCA results revealed the
existence of three significant principal components revealing how processes like salinization, water-rock interaction,
and anthropogenic pollution influence ground water quality. Three factors which together explain
90.3% and 83.3% of the total variance in the summer and post-monsoon dataset were retained and interpreted.
Cluster analysis using the Ward method with squared Euclidean distance measure was performed, which
indicated the distribution of the studied wells according to their water quality. Water samples from 12 wells
were clustered into three distinct groups to depict different hydrochemical facies. The results proved that multivariate
analysis methods like HCA and PCA could be useful for evaluating ground water pollution and identifying
ground water hydrochemistry.