Assessment of Spatial Water Quality Variations in Shallow Wells Using Principal Component Analysis in Half London Ward, Tanzania
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2025-02-21
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific Research Publishing
Abstract
Groundwater is a crucial water source for urban areas in Africa, particularly
where surface water is insufficient to meet demand. This study analyses the
water quality of five shallow wells (WW1-WW5) in Half-London Ward, Tun
duma Town, Tanzania, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to iden
tify the primary factors influencing groundwater contamination. Monthly
samples were collected over 12 months and analysed for physical, chemical,
and biological parameters. The PCA revealed between four and six principal
components (PCs) for each well, explaining between 84.61% and 92.55% of
the total variance in water quality data. In WW1, five PCs captured 87.53% of
the variability, with PC1 (33.05%) dominated by pH, EC, TDS, and microbial
contamination, suggesting significant influences from surface runoff and pit
latrines. In WW2, six PCs explained 92.55% of the variance, with PC1 (36.17%)
highlighting the effects of salinity, TDS, and agricultural runoff. WW3 had
four PCs explaining 84.61% of the variance, with PC1 (39.63%) showing high
contributions from pH, hardness, and salinity, indicating geological influences
and contamination from human activities. Similarly, in WW4, six PCs ex
plained 90.83% of the variance, where PC1 (43.53%) revealed contamination
from pit latrines and fertilizers. WW5 also had six PCs, accounting for 92.51%
of the variance, with PC1 (42.73%) indicating significant contamination from
agricultural runoff and pit latrines. The study concludes that groundwater
quality in Half-London Ward is primarily affected by a combination of surface
runoff, pit latrine contamination, agricultural inputs, and geological factors.
The presence of microbial contaminants and elevated nitrate and phosphate
Description
This Journal Articles was published by Scientific Research Publishing in 2025