Emerging solid waste leachate pollutants and brewing effluent on delta eco-zones; Impact on environmental resources sustainability, a case of Niger Delta Nigeria

Abstract

There is no sustainable management of effluent or any form of treatment of MSW leachates in Nigeria. This complex liquid contains an excessive concentration of biodegradable and non-biodegradable products which includes organic matters, heavy metals, manganese, bacteria and fungi that have a capacity of polluting the plants, soil and water resources. These emerging eco-toxicants find their way onto the eco-zones of the delta resources and cause avoidable harm to the natural ecosystems. Even as biodegradation undergoes natural attenuation, it relies on several mechanisms such as dilutions, sorption, and environmental conditions etc. to proceed without human intervention. But monitoring these reductive natural processes of the concentration is not prioritized. This paper serves as an expository of the current numerical features of bacteria and fungi as well as physico-chemical parameters of current surface water, leachates, and soil samples taken in the study area. Results of microbial analysis of this study showed that microbial and fungi counts varied in all the water samples. Counts of total heterotrophic bacteria were high in samples 1 and 3 for water; samples 1 and 2 for leachate and low in sample 3 for water which served as control. However, we recommend strong environmental monitoring as a remedial solution.