Multivariate statistical characterization of water quality analysis for erbil wastewater channel

Abstract EN

Multivariate statistical analysis, such as principal component analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA) and cluster analysis (CA), were applied for evaluate the water quality of Erbil wastewater channel.

Seventeen variables have been monitored in three selected sites on monthly basis for one year.

Results revealed that the most important variables are those related to salinity factors, temporal hardness and mineral salts according to PCA/FA techniques.

In addition to, CA results showed that dissimilarity of site 3 from other two sites, and most similarity between ions related to processes of hydrogeochemical and mineralization.

Generally, water quality for irrigation purposes comes under good water type (86% of total samples) to moderate type (16%) depending on EC- SAR values guidelines.

Increases in ions concentrations for EC, TDS and hardness were observed from upstream toward downstream of Erbil wastewater channel.