## 3 Results and Discussion
### Relationship between Physicochemical Parameters and Heavy Metals in Surface Water and Sediments
For example, a significant positive correlation between Zinc (Zn) and Total Phosphorus (TP) (r = 0.60 *) might stem from agricultural runoff, where Zn often originates from fertilizers and TP from both fertilizers and organic matter [72]. Additionally, high correlations between COD and TP (r = 0.83 ****) and between COD and Chl\(\alpha\) (r = 0.88) suggest a potential scenario where nutrient and organic matter enrichment is fostering eutrophication, which could detrimentally affect aquatic ecosystems [73]. Moreover, the relationships between heavy metals indicate possible synergistic toxicological effects on aquatic life, warranting a deeper dive into understanding the bioavailability and speciation of these metals in the water body. High concentrations and the coincidence of heavy metals may induce adverse effects beyond what might be anticipated from their concentrations [55; 62]. Emphasizing further potential sources, the noted correlations may point towards distinct anthropogenic inputs. For instance, the associations between metals might signify influences of urban and industrial activities, while relationships between nutrients and certain metals might allude to agricultural influences. Such integrated insights into pollutant sources can serve as a baseline to develop and implement strategic monitoring and management approaches to safeguard aquatic ecosystems. From a broader perspective, the illustrated correlations and their implications underline the importance of adopting an integrative approach to understanding aquatic environmental chemistry, considering the role and impact of anthropogenic activities in shaping these chemical dynamics. Future studies should encompass a thorough spatial-temporal analysis to elucidate pollution hotspots and trend shifts and a rigorous risk assessment to effectively comprehend ecological and health implications. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of heavy metal concentrations in surface water and sediments revealed intriguing patterns, offering insights into the nuanced interactions between these environmental matrices. Principal components with an eigenvalue greater than 1 were selected. In surface water (Table 5), the shared negative loadings of Mercury, Zinc, Chromium, Cadmium, Arsenic, Copper, Nickel, and Lead on PC 1 (explaining 60.11% of variance) suggest a unified influence, potentially originating from agricultural runoff. The fact that these heavy metals show similar behavior on PC 1 suggests a common source or process influencing their concentrations in surface water. We believe that this unified influence and the strong correlation shown in Pearson correlation may originate from agricultural runoff. Agricultural activities often involve the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals, contributing to the presence of heavy metals in water bodies [72]. The dominance of PC 1 in explaining the variance strengthens the argument that the identified unified influence of heavy metals is a significant factor shaping the heavy metal composition of surface water. The contribution of PC 2 (14.26%) indicates additional complexities, possibly linked to variations in agricultural practices, land use, or seasonal fluctuations impacting the dynamics of heavy metals in the water. The positive loadings of Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, and Lead suggest that variations in these elements positively correlate in PC 2, indicating potential commonalities, such as land use or geochemical characteristics in their sources or behaviors distinct from the negative correlations observed in PC 1. This contrasts with the negative correlations observed in PC 1, indicating a nuanced differentiation in the environmental dynamics of these heavy metals. This nuanced differentiation implies subtle distinctions in their relationships, possibly influenced by factors unique to PC 1, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between these elements.