Research article

The pollution status of Abattoir effluent on the Otamiri River, Egbu Owerri, Imo State

*¹Ononogbo CN, ²Uzohuo EN, ¹Chimereze NC and ¹Nwakire EC

¹Department of Biology/Microbiology, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri Imo State, Nigeria

²Chemistry/Biochemistry, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri Imo State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author Email: amakachris007@yahoo.com

Accepted 10, March, 2023

Abstract

The effects of abattoir effluent on the physicochemical and microbial properties of the Otamiri River in Imo State were examined using standard physicochemical and microbiological methods. The values of pH, temperature, total suspended solid (TSS), total dissolved solid (TDS), and electrical conductivity all fell within the WHO permissive limit for drinking water quality while the values of the dissolved oxygen (DO) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) far exceeded the WHO permissive limit. The total heterotrophic counts ranged from 2.5 x107cfu/ml – 5.2 x 107cfu/ml, total coliforms counts were between 1.0 x 107cfu/ml – 2.5 x 107cfu/ml while the total fungal counts ranged between 0.4 x 105cfu/ml – 1.8 x 105cfu/ml. The bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli (30.1%), Bacillus spp (18.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.0%), Proteus spp (10.5%), Klebsiella spp (10.5%), Salmonella spp (9.0%) and Enterobacter spp (6.0%) while the fungal isolates were Aspergillus spp (28.2%), Fusarium spp (25.4%), Mucor spp (21.1%), Penicillium spp (16.9%) and Rhizopus spp (8.5%). The high microbial counts recorded may be attributed to the high nutrient content of the abattoir effluent into the Otamiri River. Analyses of the results showed that the abattoir effluent was highly polluted and had a negative impact on the receiving water body. It is recommended that the abattoir effluent should be properly treated before it is discharged into the environment to prevent environmental pollution and water-borne diseases.

Keywords: Pollution, Abattoir, effluent, waterborne diseases, Otamiri River