Assessment of Impact of Industrial Discharge on the Quality of Water around Lafarge Cement WAPCO, Ewekoro, Nigeria

Abstract

The negative impact of industrial discharges into freshwater on wellbeing of man and environment prompted the assessment of the quality of water around Lafarge Cement WAPCO, Ewekoro, Ogun State. The water samples were analysed for water quality parameters using standard methods for its pH, temperature (oC), electrical conductivity (μS/cm), turbidity,
alkalinity (Alk), total hardness (TH) and concentrations of sulphate (SO₄^2-), nitrate (NO₃^-), phosphate (PO₄^3-), chloride (Cl^-), total suspended solids(TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS), heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, Mn, Ni, Fe). Results showed that TSS, TDS, TS,SO₄^2-, Turbidity, Fe, Cr, Cd, Mn, Ni and Pb concentrations were above the maximum permissible limits of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO, 2006) for drinking water during some months of the study period. However, the water temperature, pH, conductivity, NO₃^-, PO₄^3-, Cl^- and Alk levels were within the permissible limits of all the standards. In conclusion, the water is unfit for domestic uses, drinking and aqua cultural purposes since most of the parameters measured were above the maximum permissible limits of the national and international standards. Regular water quality monitoring to determine the status of the study area is recommended for human safety and environmental sustainability.