Application of Factor Analysis in the Assessment of Ground Water Quality in Bangalore North Taluk

A hydro chemical evaluation of the ground water of Bangalore north taluk was conducted using 47 samples. Electrical conductivity, temperature and pH were measured at the time of sample collection while, determination of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, and nitrate. The obtained data are processed by multivariate techniques with a varimax rotation approach after standardization. The chemical data follow four factorial axes that provide a cumulative total variance explained by 60.4%. Considering the EC as an additional variable, the matrix components after varimax rotation have identified a first axis related to Permanent hardness, a second axis associated with carbonate and bicarbonate, a third axis for potassium. These variables control a significant part of the chemistry of the groundwater in the Bangalore North Taluk.