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Integration of statistical techniques in groundwater pollution investigation in the Assin north and south municipalities, Ghana

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Abstract

The majority of communities in the Central Region rely heavily on groundwater as their primary water source because anthropogenic activities like mining and agriculture have a negative impact on the accessible surface water bodies. This necessitates a detailed comprehension of the mechanisms that influence the groundwater quality for drinking, domestic, and other uses in the region. Within the Assin North and South Municipalities, multivariate statistical approaches have been used to evaluate the chemistry of groundwater, identify the geologic variables influencing the groundwater chemistry, and identify potential anthropogenic sources of groundwater pollution. The groundwater types in the region are CaMgHCO3, Mixed, NaCl, and CaMgSO4. While the factor analysis technique identified five variables that explained a total variance of 77.541%, the cluster analysis technique identified three clusters. Factor 1 contributed 28.25%, Factor 2 made up 20.791%, Factor 3 made up 16.583%, Factor 4 made up 6.404%, and Factor 5 made up 5.514%. The relationship between the variables and the strength of the associations was shown by the correlation approach. The study has shown that anthropogenic activities like improper pesticide application, galamsey, and improper waste disposal affect the chemistry of the groundwater in addition to natural processes like rock weathering, mixing processes, and ion exchange. The application of the multivariate statistical techniques in the examination of the hydrochemical mechanisms that regulate the chemistry and general quality of groundwater has proven the effectiveness of the techniques. The results of the study have demonstrated the value of multivariate statistical analysis in hydrochemical research.

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Acknowledgements

The author is appreciative to the Management of the CWSA, Cape Coast for making data for this study available.

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  1. Hydrogeological Unit, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, P. O. Box 128, Damango, Ghana

    V. O. Agyemang

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  1. V. O. Agyemang
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Agyemang, V.O. Integration of statistical techniques in groundwater pollution investigation in the Assin north and south municipalities, Ghana. Int J Energ Water Res 7, 567–580 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-022-00232-x

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