Association of Physicochemical Characteristics, Aggregate Indices, Major Ions, and Trace Elements in Developing Groundwater Quality Index (GWQI) in Agricultural Area

Hazimah Haspi Harun, Mohamad Roslan Mohamad Kasim, Siti Nurhidayu, Zulfa Hanan Ash’aari, Faradiella Mohd Kusin and Muhammad Khalis Abdul Karim
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Hazimah Haspi Harun: Department of Forestry Science and Biodiversity, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohamad Roslan Mohamad Kasim: Department of Forestry Science and Biodiversity, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Siti Nurhidayu: Department of Forestry Science and Biodiversity, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Zulfa Hanan Ash’aari: Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Faradiella Mohd Kusin: Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Muhammad Khalis Abdul Karim: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-21

Abstract: The aim of this study was to propose a groundwater quality index (GWQI) that presents water quality data as a single number and represents the water quality level. The development of the GWQI in agricultural areas is vital as the groundwater considered as an alternative water source for domestic purposes. The insufficiency of the groundwater quality standard in Malaysia revealed the importance of the GWQI development in determining the quality of groundwater. Groundwater samples were collected from thirteen groundwater wells in the Northern Kuala Langat and the Southern Kuala Langat regions from February 2018 to January 2019. Thirty-four parameters that embodied physicochemical characteristics, aggregate indicator, major ions, and trace elements were considered in the development of the GWQI. Multivariate analysis has been used to finalize the important parameters by using principal component analysis (PCA). Notably, seven parameters—electrical conductivity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, and chloride were chosen to evaluate the quality of groundwater. The GWQI was then verified by comparing the groundwater quality in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. A sensitivity analysis was performed on this index to verify its reliability. The sensitivity GWQI has been analyzed and showed high sensitivity to any changes of the pollutant parameters. The development of GWQI should be beneficial to the public, practitioners, and industries. From another angle, this index can help to detect any form of pollution which ultimately could be minimized by controlling the sources of pollutants.

Keywords: GWQI; PCA; agricultural; Kuala Langat; Kota Bharu (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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