The Effect of Effluent Discharge from Kabakudu Soap Production Factories on the Water System in Bo City, Sierra Leone

Industrial effluent discharged into surface water bodies significantly contributes to contamination in the Bo water, swamp and well systems. In developing countries like Sierra Leone, poor wastewater management by small industries poses increasing threats to environmental and public health. This study investigates the physicochemical properties of effluent produced by Kabakudu soap factories and its impact on the surrounding water systems in Bo City. The objective was to assess the contamination levels in wells and swamp waters near soap factories and to evaluate the findings against the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water quality standards. Soap effluent and water samples were collected monthly over five months (July to November) from four sampling sites, including two wells, one swamp and one control site. On each sampling occasion, physicochemical parameters such as water temperature, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, conductivity, salinity and hydrogen peroxide were analyzed using standard field and laboratory methods. The pH of the soap effluent varied between 7.1 and 8.7. The physicochemical characteristics of the water samples showed that pH (7.1 – 7.3), temperature (27.20 – 29.40°C), salinity (0.1 – 2.79 PSU), and some turbidity and TDS values remained within WHO limits. However, certain well and swamp samples recorded turbidity levels up to 359 NTU and TDS values up to 3378.0mg/l, conductivity ranging from 18.0 to 519.8 µS/cm, and hydrogen peroxide concentrations between 0- 2.5ppm some of which exceeded WHO permissible thresholds. Higher pollution levels were generally observed during the rainy season, suggesting increased runoff and effluent transport from production sites into neighboring water sources. The analysis revealed that although some measured values conformed to WHO standards, others exceeded the limits, particularly for conductivity, hydrogen peroxide, turbidity and TDS. The results indicate that the contamination level of soap effluents is already impacting water quality and the surrounding ecosystem. While certain indicators remain within acceptable limits, continuous discharge without proper treatment will likely lead to widespread environmental degradation. It is established that industries like Kabakudu pollute streams and significantly impair water quality in various parts of Bo City. Immediate regulatory intervention is recommended to prevent contamination from surpassing safe levels and posing further risks to human health and the environment.