Cluster analysis of water quality parameters of water samples from Colachel to Melmidalam in Kanyakumari district

A methodical study has been carried out to explore physico-chemical parameters of drinking water from well and bore hole in and around the villages from Colachel to Melmidalam of Kanyakumari District. Water samples from well and bore hole in four sites namely Colachel, Kurumbanai, Midalam, Melmidalam were collected in pre monsoon and post monsoon seasons during 2019 ad 2020 and analyzed for temperature, sodium, potassium and oxidation & reduction potential. pH, turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, salinity, fluoride, chloride, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, BOD, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, nitrate, sulphate, ammonia, phosphate, total phosphorus. The physico-chemical parameters were analyzed and the results were compared with water quality standards described by WHO. Statistical techniques, calculation of basic statistics, Correlation matrix, and Hierarchical Cluster analysis were simultaneously applied to the physico-chemical parameters of water samples taken from in different sites. The above study will be useful to know the water quality and their fitness for drinking purposes at various stations undertaken. Overall water quality was found satisfactory for drinking purpose without prior treatment.