Modeling ikpoba river water quality using principal component analysis (pca) method and water quality index

This study examined the effects of brewery wastewater on the quality of water in Ikpoba River which has experienced significant pollution over the years, with a view of determining the main pollutants in the river water. River water samples were collected from eight different sampling locations covering a total distance of 750 m: one sample from upstream at 150 m from the effluent discharge location, two samples from effluents discharge point, and five samples from the downstream location at 150 m interval. The samples were collected twice a month in March, May, and July 2014 during the period of intense activity of production. The physcio-chemical analyses of the 25 selected parameters were analysed and values obtained were used to calculate the water quality index (WQI) of the river. The results indicated that Ikpoba River is severely polluted (WQI = -5429792.89, in SN1, March, 2014) as a result of untreated brewery effluent. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to identify the parameter that contributes mainly to the pollution of the river. The result of the PCA further shows that the only reoccurring parameter is Copper. Therefore, the study concludes that Copper is the only component factor that influences the river water quality throughout the period under study. The study strongly recommends that any proposed treatment method must be targeted at the removal of copper in addition to other factors of high contributory effects