Chapter 5
Assessment of Groundwater Quality
in Sri Lanka Using Multivariate
Statistical Techniques
B. M. J. K. Balasooriya, G. G. T. Chaminda, S. K. Weragoda,
Champika Ellawala Kankanamge, and Tomonori Kawakami
5.1 Introduction
Groundwater supplies more than 85% of safe drinking water available for rural communities living in Asian countries including Sri Lanka because no or less treatment is
often required and source is located near the consumer (Panabokke 2007). Additionally, groundwater significantly contributes on the agricultural water supply through
agro-wells. Population growth, overuse of pesticides and agrochemicals, salt–water
intrusion use of water resources for multiple competing uses have caused to fast
depletion of groundwater quality and the quantity posing a threat to public health.
Groundwater contains various types of pollutants and several other substances, but
concentration which is required for human health is defined at a specific limit (Singh
et al. 2020). According to the WHO, 80% of diseases are caused by water. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the groundwater quality in order to implement the
preventive measures and monitoring procedures.
Groundwater quality is influenced by many natural and anthropogenic factors.
Water–rock interactions, aquifer depth, recharge rate and evapotranspiration rate are
some of the natural factors (Liu et al. 2003; Panabokke 2007; Panabokke and Perera 2005; Villholth and Rajasooriyar 2010; Singh et al. 2020; Kumar et al. 2010).
Anthropogenic activities such as over extraction, inherent contaminants, overuse of
agrochemicals and pesticides also affected to change of the water quality. (Villholth
B. M. J. K. Balasooriya (B) · G. G. T. Chaminda · C. E. Kankanamge
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,
University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka
e-mail: kalpanabalasooriya1990@gmail.com
S. K. Weragoda
National Water Supply & Drainage Board, Kandy, Sri Lanka
T. Kawakami
Department of Environmental Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, Toyama, Japan
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Kumar et al. (eds.), Contaminants in Drinking and Wastewater Sources,
Springer Transactions in Civil and Environmental Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4599-3_5
117
Assessment of Groundwater Quality
in Sri Lanka Using Multivariate
Statistical Techniques
B. M. J. K. Balasooriya, G. G. T. Chaminda, S. K. Weragoda,
Champika Ellawala Kankanamge, and Tomonori Kawakami
5.1 Introduction
Groundwater supplies more than 85% of safe drinking water available for rural communities living in Asian countries including Sri Lanka because no or less treatment is
often required and source is located near the consumer (Panabokke 2007). Additionally, groundwater significantly contributes on the agricultural water supply through
agro-wells. Population growth, overuse of pesticides and agrochemicals, salt–water
intrusion use of water resources for multiple competing uses have caused to fast
depletion of groundwater quality and the quantity posing a threat to public health.
Groundwater contains various types of pollutants and several other substances, but
concentration which is required for human health is defined at a specific limit (Singh
et al. 2020). According to the WHO, 80% of diseases are caused by water. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the groundwater quality in order to implement the
preventive measures and monitoring procedures.
Groundwater quality is influenced by many natural and anthropogenic factors.
Water–rock interactions, aquifer depth, recharge rate and evapotranspiration rate are
some of the natural factors (Liu et al. 2003; Panabokke 2007; Panabokke and Perera 2005; Villholth and Rajasooriyar 2010; Singh et al. 2020; Kumar et al. 2010).
Anthropogenic activities such as over extraction, inherent contaminants, overuse of
agrochemicals and pesticides also affected to change of the water quality. (Villholth
B. M. J. K. Balasooriya (B) · G. G. T. Chaminda · C. E. Kankanamge
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,
University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka
e-mail: kalpanabalasooriya1990@gmail.com
S. K. Weragoda
National Water Supply & Drainage Board, Kandy, Sri Lanka
T. Kawakami
Department of Environmental Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, Toyama, Japan
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Kumar et al. (eds.), Contaminants in Drinking and Wastewater Sources,
Springer Transactions in Civil and Environmental Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4599-3_5
117