Anthropogenic and natural influences on the Krka River (Croatia) evaluated by multivariate statistical analysis

A multivariate statistical analysis was applied to the measured physico-chemical parameters to estimate anthropogenic and natural influences to water system of the Krka River. Analysis was conducted on the data from eight sampling sites collected during four sampling events. On the basis of data obtained by the biplot, four main hypotheses were defined and finally statistically confirmed. Thereof, two main and distinct processes occurring in the Krka River could be highlighted: (i) upstream pollution, caused by the inflow of untreated waste-waters from the town of Knin and (ii) downstream self-purification, caused by the settling down of pollutants and the inflow of clean subterranean waters.