DETERMINATION OF AQUIFER SUSCEPTIBILITY TO POLLUTION USING STATISTICAL-ANALYSIS

The use of statistical techniques in studying the causes of geochemica l variations in aquifers can provide important results which cannot be derived in other ways, In this study, data from the Wadi Shueib catch ment area in Jordan is evaluated, using principle component factor and multivariate factor analysis in order to better understand the variab ility in groundwater chemistry and evaluate the sources of pollution a nd the susceptibility of these aquifers to the different sources of po llution. This study clearly demonstrates that these statistical techni ques can help determine the various mechanisms causing chemical variat ion in the aquifers and the relative susceptibility of each aquifer to different types of pollution.