Groundwater is the primary source of drinking and domestic water for many households in semi-urban communities in northern Nigeria. However, the siting of abattoirs within residential areas, combined with poor waste management practices, poses a serious threat to groundwater quality and public health. This study evaluated the impact of abattoir effluent discharge on groundwater quality in Potiskum Local Government Area, Yobe State, Nigeria. Three groundwater samples (A, B and C) were collected from wells and boreholes located 24.6 m, 47.8 m and 61.5 m, respectively, from the abattoir effluent discharge point. Physicochemical and microbiological parameters were analyzed using standard methods recommended by the American Public Health Association and the World Health Organization. Results showed that most physicochemical parameters, including turbidity (0.1–1.7 NTU), total dissolved solids (<1.31mg/L) and chemical oxygen demand (34.0–34.7mg/L), were within WHO permissible limits. However, pH values in samples B and C were slightly acidic, while biochemical oxygen demand (10.8–23.7mg/L) indicated significant organic pollution. Microbiological analysis revealed severe contamination, with coliform counts of >1600, 34 and 1100 MPN/100mL for samples A, B and C, respectively. Pathogenic bacteria including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in all samples. The findings demonstrate that abattoir effluent has significantly compromised groundwater quality in the study area, rendering it unsafe for domestic use without treatment. Improved effluent management, routine groundwater monitoring and enforcement of sanitation regulations are therefore essential to protect public health and ensure sustainable water resources.
| Published in | Journal of Health and Environmental Research (Volume 12, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.jher.20261201.11 |
| Page(s) | 1-9 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Abattoir Effluents, Groundwater Quality, Potiskum, Microbial Contamination, Public Health
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APA Style
Gana, A. H., Abdullahi, Y., Sa’id, A. I. (2026). The Impact of Abattoir Effluent Discharge on Groundwater Quality in Potiskum Residential Area, Yobe State Nigeria. Journal of Health and Environmental Research, 12(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20261201.11
ACS Style
Gana, A. H.; Abdullahi, Y.; Sa’id, A. I. The Impact of Abattoir Effluent Discharge on Groundwater Quality in Potiskum Residential Area, Yobe State Nigeria. J. Health Environ. Res. 2026, 12(1), 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20261201.11
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Download@article{10.11648/j.jher.20261201.11,
author = {Abdullahi Hassan Gana and Yusuf Abdullahi and Abba Idris Sa’id},
title = {The Impact of Abattoir Effluent Discharge on Groundwater Quality in Potiskum Residential Area, Yobe State Nigeria},
journal = {Journal of Health and Environmental Research},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {1-9},
doi = {10.11648/j.jher.20261201.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20261201.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jher.20261201.11},
abstract = {Groundwater is the primary source of drinking and domestic water for many households in semi-urban communities in northern Nigeria. However, the siting of abattoirs within residential areas, combined with poor waste management practices, poses a serious threat to groundwater quality and public health. This study evaluated the impact of abattoir effluent discharge on groundwater quality in Potiskum Local Government Area, Yobe State, Nigeria. Three groundwater samples (A, B and C) were collected from wells and boreholes located 24.6 m, 47.8 m and 61.5 m, respectively, from the abattoir effluent discharge point. Physicochemical and microbiological parameters were analyzed using standard methods recommended by the American Public Health Association and the World Health Organization. Results showed that most physicochemical parameters, including turbidity (0.1–1.7 NTU), total dissolved solids (1600, 34 and 1100 MPN/100mL for samples A, B and C, respectively. Pathogenic bacteria including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in all samples. The findings demonstrate that abattoir effluent has significantly compromised groundwater quality in the study area, rendering it unsafe for domestic use without treatment. Improved effluent management, routine groundwater monitoring and enforcement of sanitation regulations are therefore essential to protect public health and ensure sustainable water resources.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - The Impact of Abattoir Effluent Discharge on Groundwater Quality in Potiskum Residential Area, Yobe State Nigeria AU - Abdullahi Hassan Gana AU - Yusuf Abdullahi AU - Abba Idris Sa’id Y1 - 2026/01/30 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20261201.11 DO - 10.11648/j.jher.20261201.11 T2 - Journal of Health and Environmental Research JF - Journal of Health and Environmental Research JO - Journal of Health and Environmental Research SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2472-3592 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20261201.11 AB - Groundwater is the primary source of drinking and domestic water for many households in semi-urban communities in northern Nigeria. However, the siting of abattoirs within residential areas, combined with poor waste management practices, poses a serious threat to groundwater quality and public health. This study evaluated the impact of abattoir effluent discharge on groundwater quality in Potiskum Local Government Area, Yobe State, Nigeria. Three groundwater samples (A, B and C) were collected from wells and boreholes located 24.6 m, 47.8 m and 61.5 m, respectively, from the abattoir effluent discharge point. Physicochemical and microbiological parameters were analyzed using standard methods recommended by the American Public Health Association and the World Health Organization. Results showed that most physicochemical parameters, including turbidity (0.1–1.7 NTU), total dissolved solids (1600, 34 and 1100 MPN/100mL for samples A, B and C, respectively. Pathogenic bacteria including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in all samples. The findings demonstrate that abattoir effluent has significantly compromised groundwater quality in the study area, rendering it unsafe for domestic use without treatment. Improved effluent management, routine groundwater monitoring and enforcement of sanitation regulations are therefore essential to protect public health and ensure sustainable water resources. VL - 12 IS - 1 ER -
Department of Biological Sciences, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria
Department of Biological Sciences, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria
Department of Biological Sciences, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria
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