Phosphorus speciation in the Williams River, New South Wales: Eutrophication and a chemometric analysis of relationships with other water quality parameters

Abstract

Phosphorus concentrations as both total phosphorus and partitioned (dissolved, 'bioavailable' and 'available-reactive') phosphorus have been determined in a quality-controlled study of the Williams River in the Hunter Valley, Australia, at Boags Hill during a five-month period. Complementary analyses of each sample for a range of standard water quality parameters were also obtained. Strong interrelationships between total phosphorus and partitioned phosphorus suggest that total phosphorus alone may be as adequate an indicator of potential algal growth as bioavailable phosphorus in this river system, an outcome supported by limited algal bioassay results. Principal component or factor analysis of the complete data set allowed qualitative insight into the relationship between the different concentrations (relevant cations and anions) and other measurements (colour (apparent), turbidity, etc.). Compounds from similar sources are clustered in the principal component plots. The samples taken over a specific time period have been analysed in a similar way, with clustering according to rainfall patterns being clearly indicated.