Multivariate Analysis of Coastal Water Quality: Impact of Physicochemical Parameters at Beach Outfalls

  • Ohoud Bushaibah et al.
Keywords: Water quality, Ecosystem health, Multivariate analysis, Physicochemical Parameters, Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

Abstract

Maintaining coastal water quality is vital to environmental health, public safety, and ecosystem resilience. This study employs a variety of statistical methods, including T-tests, single-factor ANOVA, regression analysis, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), to investigate the relationships between critical physicochemical parameters—temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and electrical conductivity (EC)—at two beach outfalls, OC3 and OC18.The aim is to discern the water quality characteristics of the two outfalls to identify relationships and trends between these parameters. T-tests and ANOVA revealed significant differences in electrical conductivity (p = 0.000125, F = 20.549) and dissolved oxygen (p = 0.008305, F = 7.640) between OC3 and OC18, illustrating that these parameters vary considerably between sites. However, there were no discernible variations in pH or temperature. Regression analysis revealed that at OC3, none of the predictors (pH, EC, or DO) substantially predicted water temperature. At OC18, pH was a significant predictor (p = 0.0016), indicating an associated connection, while EC and DO were not. PCA determined that the primary sources of variability were pH, temperature, and electrical conductivity. The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) accounted for 81.3% of the total variation, with PC1 (45.2%) influenced by temperature and pH and PC2 (36.1%) by electrical conductivity and dissolved oxygen. OC3 was associated with slightly higher temperatures and pH, whereas OC18 showed higher electrical conductivity and dissolved oxygen levels. These findings emphasize the significance of targeted, site-specific water quality control approaches to preserve coastal ecosystems and public health. The application of multidimensional statistical techniques allows for a more comprehensive assessment of water quality and provides valuable insights into the complicated dynamics of beach outfalls.

Published
2024-02-04
Issue
Volume 2024
Section
Regular Issue

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