LAUSR

Abstract An attempt has been made in this study to analyze the hotspots and cold spots of groundwater potential zones. First, a total of nine significant factors were identified (Slope, distance to faults, distance to rivers, river density, altitude, landcover, geology, soil texture and rainfall) and integrated to obtain the groundwater potential zones (hotspots and cold spots). Second, these factors were used as explanatory variables to understand the spatial configuration of groundwater potential zones. The ordinary least squared (OLS) model diagnostics showed that the R-squared and adjusted R-squared values of the explanatory variables are 0.71 and 0.87 respectively. Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) values of the OLS ranges between 1.04 (for slope) and 1.49 (distance to rivers) indicating the absence of redundancy among explanatory variables. Koenker (BP) statistic is statistically insignificant (p > 0.005) indicating that relationships modeled are consistent. The OLS regression model was subject to different tests to confirm its reliability. Among them, the F-statistic, Wald, Koenker (BP) and Jarque–Bera statistics tests stand out. Spatial autocorrelation tool (Global Moran's I) result showed that the residuals exhibit a random spatial pattern with the z-score of 0.01. This study proved that all the explanatory variables played a significant role towards demarcation of groundwater potential zones.