Application of Principal Component Analysis for Developing Water Quality Index for Selected Coastal Areas of Alexandria Egypt

Abstract

This paper presents water quality analysis of three sites located in the coastal area of Alexandria, Egypt. Principal co mponent analysis (PCA) approach was used to develop water quality index (WQI). PCA results revealed that Nubaria and Umou m drains were the most highly polluted samp ling sites and supposed to be hotspots of environ mental pollutants due to industrial, agricultural and do mestic wastes disposed and eluted compared to Kilo 21 d rain which could be considered the control site for the present study. The findings with the help o f principal co mponents suggested are being of great importance in establishing guidelines for the ad ministration of water sources and the improvement of water quality in these areas.