Unraveling the hydrogeochemical evolution and pollution sources of shallow aquifer using multivariate statistical analysis and hydrogeochemical techniques: a case study of the Quaternary aquifer in Beni Suef area, Egypt.

This study integrates multivariate statistical analysis and hydrogeochemical modeling to investigate the processes controlling the groundwater composition of a shallow aquifer where increased pumping rates and anthropogenic impacts were prevalent. Eighteen groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for major elements and selected heavy metals. The data were classified on the basis of multivariate statistical analysis into three clusters: C1 (Na-Cl facies), C2 (Ca-SO facies), and C3 (Ca-HCO facies).