Spatial Variation in Groundwater Pollution from Abattoir Effluents in Karu, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the spatial pollution of groundwater around Karu abattoir by the abattoir effluents by analysing the physical, chemical and biological parameters of water samples collected from different wells at different distances around the abattoir comprising Group A (within abattoir), Group B (60m from abattoir) and Group C (200-300m from abattoir). Parameters analysed were temperature, turbidity, TDS, TSS, pH, DO, BOD, total hardness, conductivity, iron content, nitrate, sulphate, E.coli and faecal streptococci. Result of the analyses showed that the concentrations are higher in Group A water samples, and reduced slightly in the Group B and then the Group C samples, for parameters such as temperature, turbidity, TDS, TSS, BOD, sulphate, iron content, E.coli and faecal streptococci. Values for the concentration of electrical conductivity, total hardness and nitrate were inconsistent across the Groups; Group A samples were more acidic and the acidity reduces with distance from the abattoir; they also have reduced DO but the values increased slightly with Groups B and C. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P≤0.05 showed significant variation in the concentration of the parameters except for temperature, turbidity, pH and electrical conductivity which showed no significant variation. The parameters were at different compliance level with the WHO and NSDWQ standards. The study therefore concluded that the water in Groups A and B, was not fit for drinking unless adequately treated. It was recommended that there is the need for the treatment of the abattoir effluents before discharging them into the environment.

Keywords: Spatial variation, Groundwater, Pollution, Abattoir, Effluents, Water quality.