Water Quality Assessment of Chambal River by Using Multivariate Statistical Methods

The present investigation assessed the spatiotemporal variation in the surface water quality at 27 monitoring stations on the ChambalRiver with the aid of multivariate statistics, and categorized the river stretch from least to heavily polluted utilizing the Water Quality Index (WQI). The WQI unveiled a distinct pollution spectrum in the river, while cluster analysis (CA) grouped the stations according and water chemical similarities due to various stressors.A clear gradient of organic pollution and nutrient enrichment has been identified as the key drivers of the aquatic disturbance. WQI, CA, and PCA collectively provided an efficient framework for differentiating pollution levels and sources, underscoring the necessity of targeted monitoring and management to safeguard aquatic environments.