Kansas Geological Survey, Open-File Rept. 93-1B
Statistical Methods for Delineating
Water Quality--Page 5 of 5
Discriminant analysis, nonparametric rank tests, and factor analysis were used to evaluate water-chemistry data to determine which statistical tests would be most useful for general evaluation of the data for trends. These tests were evaluated in comparison with the Piper diagram method which is commonly used for classifying water-chemistry data. The combination of these tests provided adequate information for delineating areas of future study and provide a means for non-chemists to do a preliminary evaluation of water chemistry data.
The discriminant analysis results indicate that the test is useful for a general classification of water types and for indication of areas in the state that should be evaluated further to explain their unusual water chemistry. The nonparametric rank-order tests show that there is a significant although low correlation between chloride content and depth throughout parts of the Dakota Formation. The low correlation indicates that other variables are more important in controlling chloride than just depth. Other variables that might be considered are: relatives rules of recharge from above and below the Dakota formation; flow/flushing of saline water in the system; and relative permeability and continuity of the sandstone bodies.
Factor analysis is useful for giving additional statistical support to the other two tests. Use of factor analysis for future evaluation of the water-chemistry data in conjunction with other hydrogeologic parameters will provide additional support for the hydrogeologic explanation of the patterns observed in the water chemistry data throughout Kansas.
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Kansas Geological Survey, Dakota Aquifer Program
Original report available from the Kansas Geological Survey.
Electronic version placed online Nov. 1998
Scientific comments to P. Allen Macfarlane
Web comments to webadmin@kgs.ku.edu
URL=http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Dakota/vol3/ofr93_1b/rep05.htm