Identifing effective factors on groundwater quality and contamination in Dezful-Andimeshk plain using factor analysis method

Identify the factors affecting changes in groundwater quality and pollution of water resources management is essential. The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting groundwater quality in Dezful- Andimeshk plain using multivariate statistical technique principal components analysis. For this purpose, 96 samples were taken from groundwater and parameters of EC, TDS, Ca2 +, Mg2 +, K +, Na +, CaCO3-, Cl-, SO4-, NO3- determined according to standard methods. Using principal components analysis, four main factors affecting the quality of groundwater comprising 88% of the total variance of the data, were extracted. Based on the results of factor analysis in Dezful- Andimeshk, first factor is related to groundwater interaction with the geological formations, sediment size and primary composition of groundwater. The second factor is related to the salts existing in Lahbari and Aghajari formations dissolved in groundwater. The third and fourth factors are related to wastewater effluent from agricultural activities and the sewage from rural and urban wells, respectively.