Authors : Tolulope Oyewumi Ajao; Oluwatunmise Peter Abolarin; Praise Adenike Alli; Adebola Saheed Akolade; Tolulope Adelola Akintunde; Adekunle Dare Joseph

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 8 - August

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26aug447

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Abstract : Untreated slaughterhouse wastewater represents a significant source of environmental pollution in many developing countries, posing serious risks to surface-water quality, groundwater resources, and public health. This study investigated the hydro-environmental implications of wastewater disposal from Akinyele Central Abattoir, Ibadan, Nigeria, with particular emphasis on surface-water degradation and groundwater vulnerability within an urbanizing tropical catchment. Wastewater, surface-water, and groundwater samples were collected from six strategically selected locations comprising the effluent discharge point, downstream receiving waters, and nearby wells. Physicochemical parameters including pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), together with microbiological assessment of Escherichia coli, were analyzed using standard methods and compared with World Health Organization guideline values. Operational assessment indicated that the facility processes approximately 550 cattle and 450 goats daily and generates an estimated 24.05 m³ of wastewater per day, equivalent to about 8,778.25 m³ annually. Results revealed considerable deterioration of water quality, with BOD5 values ranging from 115 to 643 mg/L and E. coli counts ranging from 4 to 1600 MPN/100 mL, exceeding permissible limits in all sampled locations. Surface-water samples exhibited elevated turbidity (35.9–42.1 NTU), while groundwater samples showed increased electrical conductivity values of up to 1452 μS/cm, indicating contaminant migration into subsurface water systems. The findings demonstrate that untreated abattoir effluent poses substantial threats to water-resource sustainability, ecosystem integrity, and public health. The study highlights the urgent need for effective wastewater treatment, continuous environmental monitoring, and improved waste management practices to enhance the sustainability of slaughterhouse operations in rapidly urbanizing tropical environments.

Keywords : Abattoir Wastewater; Groundwater Vulnerability; Surface-Water Degradation; Hydro-Environmental Impacts; Tropical Catchment.

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