Attached
In the present study 800 well water samples were collected from five Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions situated
in Maharagama, Sri Lanka. The area is highly populated and urbanized with a very shallow ground water
table. Ground water quality was analyzed and compared with different GN divisions identifying well water
contamination pattern using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Eighty wells were sampled monthly using
simple random sampling method from January 2012 to October 2012. PCA analysis identified three clusters,
Navinna GN division as cluster 1’ with high electrical conductivity values, Jambugasmulla, Wijerama and
Gangodawila South B together as ‘cluster 2’ with high organic pollution and Wattegedara being the highest
polluted GN division as ‘cluster 3’. Overall results indicated that water quality of the area is deteriorated with
risk of potential water borne diseases and all parameters tested were far above the SriLanka Standard
Institute standards given for drinking water quality.
