Identification of Pollution in the Lukaya River and Its Tributaries: An Innovative Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Université Président Joseph Kasa Vubu

10.22044/jhwe.2025.16026.1059

Abstract

The study assesses the pollution of the Lukaya River and its tributaries by identifying factors that degrade water quality in order to formulate recommendations for sustainable management of this resource. The analysis uses Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a statistical method that efficiently handles complex water quality data. PCA reduces the dimensionality of the data while preserving variance, facilitating the identification of relationships between key physicochemical parameters such as pH, conductivity, nitrates, and phosphates. The results show that two principal components explain more than 70.23% of the variation in the river data. The sampling sites reveal significant pollution, especially by nutrients, affecting biodiversity and the health of aquatic ecosystems. Agricultural and livestock activities are the main sources of pollution. PCA helps identify these sources and provides a detailed visual analysis. Continuous monitoring and targeted actions are essential to maintain water quality and protect aquatic ecosystems, ensuring their viability for future generations.

Keywords