Abattoir effluents crisis: groundwater pollution reality and adverse environmental impact in Umuahia South and Aba South, Nigeria

The study examined how abattoir effluent discharge affects groundwater quality and the environment in Umuahia South and Aba South, Nigeria. Twenty-seven groundwater samples were taken upstream, midstream, and downstream for duration of six months. Standard techniques and influential statistics in SPSS were used to analyze parameters (pH, Cl-, TSS, TDS, NH4N, NO3-, EC, PO4, and SO42-). Hence, in Umuahia South, mean values of pH (9.72 ± 0.08), Cl- (279.06 ± 76.63 to 329.58 ± 77.39), TSS (915.84 ± 12.13 to 1178.33 ± 85.70), TDS (604.62 ± 46.16 to 707.46 ± 17.21), NH4N (13.75 ± 1.07 to 16.93 ± 1.38), and PO4 (33.55 ± 1.06 to 36.47 ± 0.66) exceeded WHO limits. While in Aba South, mean values of pH (9.44 ± 0.05), Cl- (345.43 ± 76.75 to 495.96 ± 9.60), TSS (1488.28 ± 36.65 to 1673.26 ± 83.00), TDS (766.89 ± 39.40 to 981.66 ± 50.89), NH4N (11.72 ± 0.55 to 13.63 ± 0.54), PO4 (27.64 ± 4.08 to 39.14 ± 1.18) were above recommended standard. There was a significant difference between Cl-, TSS, TDS, NH4N, NO3-, EC, and SO42 at P-value 4N, PO4, Cl-), Cl- (EC, PO4), TSS (NH4N, NO3-), TDS and NH4N (EC, PO4, Cl-), and NO3- and EC (PO4 pH (TDS, NO3-), Cl- (EC, PO4), TSS (SO42), TDS, NH4N (NO3-), and NO3- (PO4) in Umuahia South and Aba South. Finally, abattoir water should be sanitized before use. Therefore, the state environmental protection agency should actively supervise slaughterhouses and assure health and safety compliance.