Evaluation of Pollutant Discharge from Slaughterhouses on Receiving Water Bodies

Aim: The aim of this study is to appraisal the consequences of slaughterhouse wastewater discharge into surface water of selected slaughterhouse environment.

Study Design: Three (3) main stream/surface water discharged slaughterhouses was analyzed. Water samples were collected at the Middle Course (MC) of the receiving water body. Sampling was be carried out between the hours of 10.00 am and 11.00 am when the discharge of effluent into the rivers/streams always occur.

Methodology: Wastewater samples were collected from the different slaughterhouses in order to determine the quality of the effluent before it was discharged into nearby stream/river. The MC samples will be collected from about 40 m from the point of entry of the slaughterhouse waste. Waste samples were collected from each sampling site with a clean polyethylene bottles. The containers was washed with diluted HCl and then rinsed with the wastewater from the slaughterhouse so as to neutralize or reduce the effect of external contaminants. The samples were appropriately labeled and transported to the laboratory, stored in the refrigerator at 4⁰C prior to being analyzed for the physical, chemical and biological parameters present.

Results: The parameters assessed include, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Solids (TS), Phosphate, pH, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Cadmium and Lead. High level of BOD, COD, and TS was revealed on receiving streams with minimum values of 1001mg/l, 1120mg/l, and 990mg/l.

Conclusion: The physico-chemical parameters showed the negative impact of the abattoir effluent on the stream thus rendering the water of worthless value to humans. Furthermore, the abattoir urgently needs an effluent treatment facility to be installed to reduce the health hazard its effluent poses on the abattoir users and users of the streams receiving the effluent.