Evaluation of surface water quality and heavy metal pollution of Coruh River Basin (Turkey) by multivariate statistical methods

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the water quality data and heavy metal analysis results in Coruh basin by using multivariate statistical analysis methods. Measurement of 21 water quality parameters was evaluated by collecting monthly samples between June 2014 and May 2015 from 14 monitoring sites in Coruh basin. These data were interpreted by using statistical methods such as analysis of variance (ANOVA), cluster analysis, factor analysis/principal component analysis. According to ANOVA analysis, there are statistically significant differences between samples obtained from these 14 monitoring sites in terms of electrical conductivity, Zn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, NO2, SO4, alkalinity, Na, K, Ca parameters (p < 0.05). Two groups were obtained by cluster analysis. The first group consists of the areas with wastewater of mining fields with high heavy metal pollution, and the second group includes areas with domestic wastewater and wastewater coming from agricultural areas causing less pollution. As a result of factor analysis/principal component analysis, four factors were determined. These four factors explain 62.7 % of the data of water quality. It is concluded that water quality is affected by mining activities, domestic wastewater, geological structure and wastewater of agricultural areas. In this study, environmental hazards affecting the water quality of Coruh river basin at different points are identified. Thus, it is expected to guide decision makers and administrators in environmental management works conducted to improve water quality in Coruh basin.