Effects of abattoir waste discharge on the quality of the trans-amadi creek, port harcourt, rivers state, nigeria

Abstract

Water pollution by effluents from abattoirs is of public health concern because bodies of water are used as sources of drinking water and discharge of waste into it can lead to destruction of primary biota. This study presents the effect of abattoir waste on the quality of the Trans-Amadi Creek, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Physico-chemical parameters were assessed to evaluate the effect of the abattoir discharge in the Creek. Water samples were collected from three locations in Trans-Amadi Creek: upstream, middlestream and the downstream. Water samples were collected according to standard methods for laboratory analysis. Values of the parameters obtained at the Upstream, Middle-stream and Downstream were: pH 4.46; 5.09 and 5.51; Color 10, 10 and 5 pt/co; Total dissolve solids 32; 25 and 22 mg/L, Electrical conductivity 50; 38 and 34 us/cm; Total suspended solids 6.5; 10.5 and 6.0 mg/L; Alkalinity 1.04; 1.54 and 1.55 mg/L; Total Hardness 1243; 1505 and 1690 mg/L; Chloride 1205; 1820 and 3620 mg/L; NO3 15.1; 16.60 and 18.10 mg/L; Nitrate-Nitrogen 3.40; 3.70 and 4.10 mg/L; SO4 36.1; 42.1 and 37.5 mg/L; NH4 1.0; ND and ND; DO 4.40; 4.25 and 4.35 mg/L; BOD 3.20; 3.60 and 3.40 mg/L; COD 142.5; 140.6 and 135.1 mg/L; Phosphate 1.50; 0.50 and 1.40 mg/L; Phosphorus 0.50; 0.20 and 0.40 mg/L; Zn 0.260; 0.108 and 0.230; THC 2600; 2150 and 2860 cfu/100 mL. The results shows a negative impact on the middle-stream on some parameters which might pose a health risk to the communities around.