Spatio-temporal variations in water quality of Nullah Aik-tributary of the river Chenab, Pakistan |
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Authors: | Abdul Qadir Riffat Naseem Malik Syed Z Husain |
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Institution: | (1) Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, PO 4600, Pakistan;(2) Fatima Jinnah Women University, The Mall, Rawalpindi, PO 4600, Pakistan |
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Abstract: | This study reports the spatio-temporal changes in water quality of Nullah Aik, tributary of the Chenab River, Pakistan. Stream
water samples were collected at seven sampling sites on seasonal basis from September 2004 to April 2006 and were analyzed
for 24 water quality parameters. Most significant parameters which contributed in spatio-temporal variations were assessed
by statistical techniques such as Hierarchical Agglomerative Cluster Analysis (HACA), Factor Analysis/Principal Components
Analysis (FA/PCA), and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA). HACA identified three different classes of sites: Relatively
Unimpaired, Impaired and Less Impaired Regions on the basis of similarity among different physicochemical characteristics
and pollutant level between the sampling sites. DFA produced the best results for identification of main variables for temporal
and spatial analysis and separated eight parameters (DO, hardness, sulphides, K, Fe, Pb, Cr and Zn) that accounted 89.7% of
total variations of spatial analysis. Temporal analysis using DFA separated six parameters (E.C., TDS, salinity, hardness,
chlorides and Pb) that showed more than 84.6% of total temporal variation. FA/PCA identified six significant factors (sources)
which were responsible for major variations in water quality dataset of Nullah Aik. The results signify that parameters identified
by statistical analyses were responsible for water quality change and suggest the possibility of industrial, municipal and
agricultural runoff, parent rock material contamination. The results suggest dire need for proper management measures to restore
the water quality of this tributary for a healthy and promising aquatic ecosystem and also highlights its importance for objective
ecological policy and decision making process. |
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Keywords: | Industrial effluents Sialkot Statistical analysis Surface water pollution Urban sewage |
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