Investigating the Effect of Tannery Effluent Discharge on Groundwater Quality in Challawa, Kano State, Nigeria

This study examined the effect of tannery effluent discharge on quality of ground water in challawa industrial area, Kano. The laboratory analysis of samples was done as per standard methods prescribed by WHO. Samples of tannery effluent were collected from the industry while samples of hand-dug well water were also collected from nearby (100m) and very far distance (1km) from the industry. The findings revealed that the volume of the effluent discharge from the industry was found to be 180000 litres per operation and 540000 litres weekly. Composition of the effluent was found to have the following concentrations: PH (9.8), colour (1647pt. co), BOD (365mg/l), COD (259.12mg/l), E. C (1490US), TDS (1087mg/l), and Pb (0.0115). average concentration of parameters tested for the ground water was found have the following: PH (7.95), temperature (28.4o), colour (62.5pt. co), turbidity (82.5NTU), E. C (675US), total hardness (220mg/l), TDS (488.5mg/l), Ca (0.094), Mg (5.894), Fe (0.943), Pb (0.508), Cr (0.009). The analysed concentrations of the composition were found to be above WHO permissible. The study recommended that the government should ensure proper treatment of effluents by the tannery industries before discharging them into the environment. The polluter pays principle should also be introduced by the concerned government authorities to discourage reckless contamination of the environment.