Title: Surface water quality assessment based on GIS and hierarchical clustering technique: a case study of Cam Pha Region, Northeast Vietnam

Authors: Danh Tuyen Vu; Tien Thanh Nguyen; Anh Huy Hoang

Addresses: Department of Training, Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, No. 41A Phu Dien, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Surveying, Mapping and Geographic Information, Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, No. 41A Phu Dien, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Environment, Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, No. 41A Phu Dien, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

Abstract: This study is set out to assess surface water quality of three groups of chemical (pH, COD, NH₄⁺), of physics (TSS) and of microorganisms (Coliform) in the Cam Pha mining area, northeast Vietnam. GIS and hierarchical clustering technique were used for interpolation and grouping samples that have similar water quality, respectively. The results showed that surface water quality was heavily contaminated. All of indicators do not meet Vietnam's National Technical Regulations (NTR), especially COD and TSS beyond NTR about ten times at many locations such as TSS at Ha Rang stream, NH₄⁺ at Cau Four River and COD at Khe Sim stream. The worst and best water quality was detected at Ha Rang and Khe Sim and Lep My, Khe Re, and Ong Linh streams, respectively. The results of this study demonstrated GIS and hierarchical clustering technique are effective methods for surface water quality assessments.

Keywords: GIS; hierarchical clustering technique; surface water quality assessment; Cam Pha; Vietnam.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2019.102303

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2019 Vol.18 No.2, pp.158 - 170

Accepted: 31 May 2019
Published online: 16 Sep 2019 *

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