Application of Multivariate Statistical Analysis and Water Quality Index for Quality Characterization of Parbati River, Northwestern Himalaya, India

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to accomplish the understanding of the factors impacting surface water quality of Parbati river in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The main objective is to assess the overall water quality, to explore its hydrogeochemical characteristics including major ion contents and other chemical parameters using Water Quality Index (WQI), statistical techniques (principal component analysis) and conventional graphical representation such as Piper trillinear diagram, Durov. Eighteen surface water sampling sites were selected to analyze physico-chemical parameters for June 2019 and September 2019. Analytical outcomes of thirty six surface water samples for both seasons are well within the permissible limits as per BIS, 2012 & WHO 2011 for drinking and domestic purposes. Water quality characterization for the assigned use shows that maximum surface water samples falls under excellent to good water quality index and are suitable for drinking without conventional treatment. The Piper trillinear diagram classified 100% of surface water samples for both seasons’ falls in the fields of Ca2+ - Mg2+ -HCO3− water type indicating temporary hardness. Abundance of ions in the water samples is in the order: anions HCO3− > Cl−> SO42−>NO3− and cations Mg2+> Ca2+> Na+> K+. PCA identifies that the surface water chemistry is influenced by natural factors as well as minor anthropogenic activities in both the seasons.