Characterization and Classification of Groundwater from Wells Using an Electronic Tongue (Kairouan, Tunisia)

Groundwater from the Kairouan plain (Tunisia) can be effectively characterized and classified using an electronic tongue—a sensor array combined with pattern recognition tools. The study, involving 17 samples analyzed for nine chemical parameters (e.g., potassium, sodium, calcium, ammonium), demonstrated that multi-sensor responses paired with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) provide a rapid, reliable method for assessing water quality. PCA reduced data redundancy while CA identified spatial similarities among sampling sites, revealing distinct groundwater profiles. This approach offers a promising alternative for monitoring and classifying groundwater in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Kairouan.

Sghaier, K., Barhoumi, H., Maaref, A., Siadat, M., & Jaffrezic-Renault, N. (2011). Characterization and Classification of Groundwater from Wells Using an Electronic Tongue (Kairouan, Tunisia). Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 03(07), 531–539. https://doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2011.37063