International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Environmental Sciences 2319 - 1414 2 2 2013 February 22 Index Analysis, Graphical and Multivariate Statistical Approaches for Hydrochemical Characterisation of Damodar River and its Canal System, Durgapur, West Bengal, India 53 62 EN Rajiv P. 1 2 Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Karpagam University, Eachanari post, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Department of Chemistry, Government Arts College, Udumalpet, Tamilnadu, INDIA Narendhran S. 2 Subhashkumar M. 3 Sankar A. 4 Rajeshwari Sivaraj 5 Rajendran Venckatesh 6 ChavanB.L. 1 Department of Environmental Science, School of Earth Sciences, Solapur University, Solapur, Maharashtra, INDIA Dhulap V.P. 2 Soubeiga M. 1 Centre d’Etude pour la Promotion, l’Aménagement et la Protection de l’Environnement (CEPAPE), 03 BP 7021 Université de Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique, de Radiochimie et d’Electrochimie (LACARE), UFR/SEA, 03 BP 7021 Université de Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO Institut de Recherche en Sciences Appliquées et Technologies (IRSAT), Centre National de Recherches Scientifiques et Technologiques (CNRST), 03 BP 7047 Ouagadougou 03, BURKINA FASO Service Qualité-Eau de l’Office National de l’Eau et de l’Assainissement (ONEA) 01 BP 170 Ouagadougou 01, BURKINA FASO Guiguemde I. 2 Diendere F. 3 Kone M. 4 DiarraJ. 5 Bary A. 6 Singh A.K. 1 Bio-resource Tech Laboratory, Microbiology Department, CCS University, Meerut, INDIA PrakashD. 2 Shahi S.K. 3 Pare Samuel 1 2 Laboratoire de Chimie organique, Structure et réactivité, U.F.R.-S.E.A–Université de Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou 03, BURKINA FASO Department of Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SWEDEN Laboratoire de Chimie Physique et d’Electrochimie, U.F.R.-S.E.A–Université de Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou 03, BURKINA FASO Persson Ingmar 2 Guel Boubié 3 4 Lundberg Daniel 5 KumarNaik A.S. 1 Department of Fisheries Resources and Management, College of Fisheries, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Mangalore, Karnataka, INDIA Benakappa S. 2 Somashekara S.R. 3 Anjaneyappa H.N. 4 Jitendra Kumar. 5 Mahesh V. 6 SrinivasH.Hulkoti 7 Rajanna K.B. 8 Subrata Basu 1 4 PhD Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, INDIA 2,3Faculty Member, Department of Civil Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, INDIA Dept. of Microbiology, Herbicure Healthcare Bio-Herbal Research Foundation, Metro Garden City, Pailan, D.H. Road, Kolkata, INDIA SwapanKumar Mukhopadhyay 2 AmitavaGangopadhyay 3 SujataG. Dastidar 4 Teli Nikhil 1 3 Department of Biotechnology, Viva College, Virar (W), Maharashtra, INDIA Department of Botany, Viva College, Virar (w), Maharashtra, INDIA Department of Botany, Wilson College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA Verma Deepa 2 GavankarRohan 3 Bhalerao Satish 4 Bhattacharyya Rama 1 Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, 731235, Birbhum, West Bengal, INDIA KumarManoj 2 PadhyPratap Kumar 3 > Research Paper 2012 10 18 2013 February 22 Damodar river, one of the most important tributaries of river Ganges, flows through two Indian states Jharkhand and West Bengal. The river basin is characterised by the presence of large scale mining and industrial activities owing to the rich occurrence of mineral resources. The river in West Bengal flows through the steel city Durgapur where a massive 692 metres barrage is located across the river. Two main canals originate from the Durgapur barrage supplying water to an extensive network of canal systems. The major objectives of the present study were, i. to investigate the hydrochemical profile of the Damodar river and its canal waters, ii. to develop an objective water quality index (WQI) indicating their overall ecological status, iii. to apply intelligent data analyses techniques like graphical methods and multivariate statistical approaches on water quality data for better interpretation of water chemistry, iv. to test the suitability of waters for irrigation using sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percentage sodium (%Na) and permeability index (PI). Water samples were analysed for sixteen parameters to develop a suitable hydrochemical profile. Piper diagram was used for plotting major cations and anions suggesting the water types. Principal component analysis (PCA)/Factor analysis (FA) and cluster analysis (CA) along with correlation analysis was performed on the data matrix for apportionment of sources of chemicals found in the river and canal waters. Important findings of the study are i.WQI (53.63 – 65.00) classified river and canal waters into medium category indicating anthropogenic influence on the surface water characteristics, ii. Piper diagram suggested water types ranging from Mixed-Ca2+-Mg2+-Cl to Na-Cltype, iii. PCA/FA and CA interpreted both geogenic and anthropogenic factors responsible for influencing the water chemistry, iv. SAR (1.43 – 2.27), %Na (39.96 – 55.93) and PI (56.49 – 101.19) values along with the United States Salinity Laboratory diagram and the Wilcox diagram reflected suitability of the river and canal waters for irrigation. The organic pollution load emerged to be a serious concern and proper attention is required for controlling this problem. 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