Assessment through Statistical Methods of Water Quality Parameters(WQPs) in the Han River in Korea

Objective: This study was conducted to develop a chemical oxygen demand (COD) regression model using water quality monitoring data (January, 2014) obtained from the Han River auto-monitoring stations. Methods: Surface water quality data at 198 sampling stations along the six major areas were assembled and analyzed to determine the spatial distribution and clustering of monitoring stations based on 18 WQPs and regression modeling using selected parameters. Statistical techniques, including combined genetic algorithm-multiple linear regression (GA-MLR), cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to build a COD model using water quality data. Results: A best GA-MLR model facilitated computing the WQPs for a 5-descriptor COD model with satisfactory statistical results ($r^2=92.64$,$Q{^2}_{LOO}=91.45$,$Q{^2}_{Ext}=88.17$). This approach includes variable selection of the WQPs in order to find the most important factors affecting water quality. Additionally, ordination techniques like PCA and CA were used to classify monitoring stations. The biplot based on the first two principal components (PCs) of the PCA model identified three distinct groups of stations, but also differs with respect to the correlation with WQPs, which enables better interpretation of the water quality characteristics at particular stations as of January 2014. Conclusion: This data analysis procedure appears to provide an efficient means of modelling water quality by interpreting and defining its most essential variables, such as TOC and BOD. The water parameters selected in a COD model as most important in contributing to environmental health and water pollution can be utilized for the application of water quality management strategies. At present, the river is under threat of anthropogenic disturbances during festival periods, especially at upstream areas.