Assessment of spatial variations in the surface water quality of the Velhas River Basin, Brazil, using multivariate statistical analysis and nonparametric statistics.

The Velhas River sub-basin, which is located in the third-largest river basin in Brazil (São Francisco), is in an advanced state of degradation. In this work, the surface water quality of the Velhas River Basin was studied at 65 monitoring sites; 16 water quality parameters were sampled quarterly for 11 years (2008 to 2013). Cluster analysis (CA) and a nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test were associated with the analysis of violations to water quality standards to interpret the water quality data set from the Velhas River Basin and assess its spatial variations.

Using multivariate techniques as a strategy to guide optimization projects for the surface water quality network monitoring in the Velhas river basin, Brazil.

Surface water quality monitoring networks are usually deployed and rarely re-evaluated with regard to their effectiveness. In this sense, this work sought to evaluate and to guide optimization projects for the water quality monitoring network of the Velhas river basin, using multivariate statistical methods. The cluster, principal components, and factorial analyses, associated with non-parametric tests and the analysis of violation to the standards set recommended by legislation, identified the most relevant water quality parameters and monitoring sites, and evaluated the sampling frequency.

Correction to: The use of multivariate statistical methods for optimization of the surface water quality network monitoring in the Paraopeba river basin, Brazil.

Unfortunately, the original version of this article was published online with error. The Tables 3 and 4 data was mixed up. The corrected Tables 3 and 4 are shown in the next page.

The use of multivariate statistical methods for optimization of the surface water quality network monitoring in the Paraopeba river basin, Brazil.

This study sought to evaluate and propose adjustments to the water quality monitoring network of surface freshwaters in the Paraopeba river basin (Minas Gerais, Brazil), using multivariate statistical methods. A total of 13,560 valid data were analyzed for 19 water quality parameters at 30 monitoring sites, over a period of 5 years (2008-2013). The cluster analysis grouped the monitoring sites in eight groups based on similarities of water quality characteristics.