Modeling of Groundwater Quality Near a Dumpsite Using Principal Component Analysis of Physico-Chemical Parameters

Abstract

<jats:p>The aim of this study was to determine water quality and develop a predictive model using principal component analysis (PCA) based on physico-chemical characteristics of groundwater sources around a dumpsite. Twelve (12) water samples were collected from groundwater sources around the Solous dumpsite situated in Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos State, Nigeria. Some of the physico-chemical parameters determined in the samples include pH, nitrate content, total hardness, cadmium, iron, lead, manganese, and zinc contents. These were used to determine the water quality index and model using the PCA. The water analysis showed pH levels ranging from 6.15 to 8.55, nitrate concentrations between 1 and 40 mg/L, and total hardness from 17.8 to 720.0 ppm. The concentrations of metals detected included manganese (0.01–0.04 mg/L), zinc (0.05–0.13 mg/L), iron (1.40–12.30 mg/L), lead (0.50–1.20 mg/L), and cadmium (0.03–0.08 mg/L) across all samples. For each of the 12 water samples, the Water Quality Index (WQI) varied between 2636.08 and 3752.60. The PCA revealed that whereas pH (0.865), total hardness (0.741), nitrate (0.816), and manganese (0.770) contents were the significant variables affecting the quality of the water samples within the study region, zinc had the least overall influence on the quality of the various water samples. In conclusion, all of the water samples had a water quality index greater than 300, meaning they were unfit for household (or drinking) use. The pH, total hardness, nitrate and manganese were the four most important variables while zinc was the least variable that influenced the quality of the water samples in this study.</jats:p>