Statistical study of Khibiny Alkaline Massif (Kola Peninsula) groundwater quality with respect to elevated aluminum concentrations

ABSTRACT

Current study addresses a problem of elevated aluminum concentrations deteriorating Khibiny Alkaline Massif groundwater quality. The application of chemometric methods to the field dataset 1999–2018 allows to quantitatively describe the groundwater quality, reveal variability patterns and potential sources of elevated aluminum level in the groundwater. The field dataset contains almost 40% more observations of 12 physicochemical groundwater quality parameters than the dataset analyzed in our previous studies on Khibiny groundwater quality assessment reported in the literature. The results revealed statistically significant (α-level=0.05) associations between Al and pH, Cl⁻, ${\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}$, ${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-}$ according to the calculated matrix using distance correlation method. The mathematical models developed with the application of multiple regression and factor/principal component analysis elucidate up to 55.5% Al concentration variability and up to 68.3% of total dataset variance. Calculated for the 19-year period the water quality index values, which changed in early 2000s from fair to a marginal category, still belongs to this category reflecting unsatisfactory water quality conditions. Comparing the current study results to the conclusions drawn in our previous publications it is assumed that the main factors determining substandard groundwater quality have remained the same since last groundwater quality assessment reported in the literature. The examined combination of chemometric methods allows to gain insight into the main features of variability patterns of water quality characteristics and the potential sources of groundwater contamination. This approach forms a reliable foundation for enhancing groundwater quality monitoring and control in the Arctic region of interest and other locations experiencing similar problems.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Aluminum
• groundwater
• chemometrics
• spectral analysis
• polar region

Acknowledgements

The authors are gratefully acknowledging the Apatityvodokanal JSC (Apatity, Russia) for all their interest and support in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada [Grant Number RP 325739].