Factor analysis as an example of qualitative and quantitative method for modeling hydrogeochemical processes of coastal sedimentary basin of Togo

摘要

The?present study?examined the hydrochemical facies of groundwater present in the Coastal?Sedimentary basin?of?Togo around drinking water supply. The study aim at explaining the controlling processes responsible for various?facies.?The?parameters including pH,?electrical conductivity?(EC), K, Na, Ca, Mg,?Cl, HCO3,?SiO2,?SO4?and NO3?in water samples?were?analyzed?and based on standard procedures. The data obtained were subjected to R-mode?factor analysis. Two factors were extracted. Factor 1 include EC,?Na,?Cl,?Ca, SO4?and?K and explained 59.88%?of the total variance, Cl and EC and reflected the signature of saline water incursion. Factor 2 has high loading?values of pH,HCO3, SiO2?and NO3?which explained?34.76% of the total variance. pH and HCO3?are the processes of natural?rainwater recharge and water-soil/rock interaction process which eventually as acid-rain recharges aquifers in the?vicinity.?The presence of nitrate in groundwater reflects the anthropogenic impact of domestic sewage, industrial waste, uncontrolled landfill waste,?fertilizers, and manure on?the study area.?This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of factor analysis in evaluating hydrochemical processes in?coastal and industrial areas.