Effect of Abattoir Waste on Surface Water Quality Parameters of Iwofe River, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Indiscriminate discharge of abattoir wastewater has been a major cause of concern globally due to its negative effect on the environment. This study analyzed the effect of abattoir waste on surface water quality parameters the of Iwofe River, Port-Harcourt, and the River’s state using standard methods. The water samples were collected at three different points (upstream, midstream, and downstream) and the results were analyzed using Oneway ANOVA at p = 0.05. From the results; temperature, pH, salinity, conductivity, oxidation-reduction potential, and turbidity were in the range of 28.50 – 29.70 oC, 7.19 – 7, 3.00 – 6.35 PSU, 5059 – 11208 µS/cm, 91.70 – 164.80 mV, and 59.60 – 78.10 NTU respectively. Although the temperature was slightly above WHO standards, pH, Electrical conductivity, and Turbidity were all within WHO acceptable limits. TDS, TSS, DO, BOD5, and COD were in the range of 2542 - 5604 mg/L, 2.90 – 7.75 mg/L, 5.90 – 12.90 mg/L, 0.42 – 3.08 mg/L, and 5.90 – 18.50 mg/L respectively. DO and TS were above WHO permissible limit while BOD5, COD, TSS, COD, and ORQ were within WHO permissible limit in all samples. Total alkalinity, hardness, Cl-, CO32-, and NO3- were 25 – 113 mg/L, 990.00 – 1256.00 mg/L, 3669.08 – 7887.63 mg/L, 12.50 to 66.00 mg/L, 0.85 – 1.08 mg/L. SO42-, PO42-, oil and grease, and total coliform were in the range of 133.56 – 283.17 mg/L, 90.00 – 100.00 mg/L, 0.10 – 0.15 mg/L, 1.34 × 104 to 2.98 × 105 cfu/mL. Total Alkalinity was within limit only in upstream, while hardness, Cl-, NO3, SO42-, and total coliform were all above WHO permissible limit in drinking water. Heavy/trace metals results ranged as follow; As (<0.001 – 0.009 mg/L), Pb (<0.001 – 0.002 mg/L), Zn (<0.001), Fe (0.019 – 0.285 mg/L), K (8.245 – 8.540 mg/L), Mn (<0.001 – 0.005 mg/L), Mg (3.345 – 4.076 mg/L), Ca (2.452 – 4.085 mg/L), Ni (0.002 – 0.010 mg/L), Cu (<0.001 – 0.006 mg/L), Cr (0.001 – 0.003 mg/L), Cd (0.006 – 0.013 mg/L). As, Pb, Zn, K, Mn, and Ca were not above WHO permissible limit, but were present in significant amount indicating that the river was gradually being polluted with metals. Most of the water quality parameters did not meet WHO permissible limits for drinking water. Also, the study indicates that the meat processing industry can potentially reduce water portability, thereby adversely affecting the range of its uses. Hence the activities of the abattoir should be monitored closely by relevant agencies in order to prevent full-blown environmental problems and health hazards in the near future.