ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Evaluation of Surface Water Quality on Spatiotemporal Gradient Using Multivariate Statistical Techniques: A Case Study of River Chenab, Pakistan
 
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1
College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, New Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
 
2
Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan
 
 
Submission date: 2018-01-26
 
 
Final revision date: 2018-06-30
 
 
Acceptance date: 2018-07-05
 
 
Online publication date: 2019-03-26
 
 
Publication date: 2019-04-09
 
 
Corresponding author
Firdaus Kausar   

university of the punjab, college of earth and environmental sciences,university of the punjab., 54600 lahore, Pakistan
 
 
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(4):2645-2657
 
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ABSTRACT
The Chenab River is experiencing deteriorating water quality due to ill-planned industrialization, population pressure, extensive agriculture, water diversion and rapid urbanization. Our study was designed to highlight the spatiotemporal variation in the water quality of the Chenab and identify potential pollution sources using multivariate analyses viz cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, principal component analysis and factor analysis. Water samples were collected from nine sampling sites along the Chenab from 2012 to 2014 during dry and wet seasons. Cluster analysis identified three zones, i.e., least stressed zone (LSZ), moderately stressed zone (MSZ) and highly stressed zone (HSZ). The discriminant analysis differentiated seven parameters (COD, Cl, SO4, K, Cu, Cd and Pb) and five parameters (TDS, Cl, S, F and Ca) as most significant on spatial and temporal bases, respectively. The untreated industrial and domestic wastewater, atmospheric deposition and surface runoff containing heavy metals and fertilizer along with a decrease in dilution factor due to the diversion of the water through link canals were identified as the major factors causing water quality deterioration. Therefore, the results imply that a comprehensive water management plan and implementation of environmental laws are urgently needed to protect Chenab water quality.
eISSN:2083-5906
ISSN:1230-1485
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