ANALYSIS OF THE BIOCHEMICAL QUALITY OF GROUNDWATER SOURCES AROUND ABATTOIRS IN ILE-IFE, OSUN STATE.

Abstract

The study characterized and mapped the abattoirs in Ile-Ife, Osun State. It also determined the biochemical quality of groundwater sources around selected abattoir in the area. It further examined the vulnerable groundwater sources to biochemical contamination from the abattoir activities in the area. These were with the view to determining the quality of water around the abattoirs and vulnerability of the groundwater sources to contamination by abattoir waste products. Data used were from primary and secondary sources. Primary data included the geographical locations (x, y) of selected abattoirs and groundwater sources within 100m of selected abattoirs and outside it (as control). Water samples were collected from the groundwater sources in dry and wet seasons. Water samples were analyzed for concentrations of major cations (Na+, Pb, Cd, Fe2+), anions (PO43-, NO3-, Cl-) and composite water parameters (total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity and pH). Secondary data were the boundary (political) map of the area. Data were analyzed using laboratory, statistical and geoinformation techniques, and the results were compared with Standard water quality recommendations for potable use. The results showed that the groundwater sources around the abattoir were generally characterized by mean values of 1007 μScm-1 of conductivity, 713 mgl-1 of total dissolved solids, 222.4 mgl-1 of Cl-, 23.5 mgl-1 of NO3-, and 8.1 – 11.6 range of pH. The results also showed that the values of Cd, Fe, total dissolved solids, conductivity and pH in the groundwater sources around the abattoirs exceeded the recommended limits for potable water. Lastly, the study showed that all the selected groundwater sources within 100m radius of abattoir premises appears to be vulnerable to contamination from abattoir waste products. The study concluded that the quality of water from the groundwater sources around the abattoirs in the study area is higher than the standard recommended limit for portable water. Keywords: Abattoir, Effluent, Groundwater, Physicochemical parameters, Geographic information System, Ile-Ife.