Investigation of Palm Oil Mill Effluent Pollution Impact on Ground Water Quality and Agricultural Soils

A field study was carried out to investigate palm oil mill effluent pollution impact on ground water quality and agricultural soils. Two water samples were collected, one from the downstream and upstream locations away from the effluent discharge using 1 litre capacity container. Soil samples from the palm oil effluent dumpsite as well as a non-palm oil mill effluent soil were collected. Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, total hardness, turbidity, sulphate, COD, BOD5, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity and percentage saturation for water samples were determined. pH, water holding capacity, total organic carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable cations: potassium, Na, Ca, Mg and cation exchange capacity for soil. Data obtained from the study were subjected to statistical analyses of variance (ANOVA). Significant variations exist in most of the physico-chemical variables among the sampled parameters. Data for water samples were also compared with IS: 10500 (1992) and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ). Most of these parameters indicated pollution but were below the IS: 10500 (1992) and (NSDWQ) limits for consumption. The pH ranged from 4.6 to 4.7 indicating toxic pollution, electrical conductivity, total hardness, turbidity, sulpahte, COD, BOD5, total dissolved solid, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, % saturation were all significant difference from each other. Soil pH, electric conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available P, organic matter, Ca and exchangeable acidity were also all significant difference from each other. It is concluded that a drastic move towards quality and environmental conservation through sustainable development and cleaner technology approach within manufacturing industries in Nigeria is implemented