AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT ABATTOIR EFFLUENT DISCHARGE ON THE WATER QUALITY OF INACHALO RIVER IN IDAH, KOGI STATE
Abstract
An abattoir is a facility or a premise approved and registered by the controlling
authority for hygienic slaughtering and inspection of animals, processing and effective preservation and storage of meat products for human consumption. This study assessed the impact of abattoir effluent discharge on the water quality of Inachalo River in Idah, Kogi State.
The objectives of the study was to analyze the physicochemical and microbiological properties of the water in Inachalo River at different points, particularly near the abattoir, to determine the levels of contamination in the river water caused by the discharge of abattoir effluents. Statistical ANOVA analysis confirmed that differences between the observed values and standard permissible limits were statistically significant (p < 0.05) for most parameters, especially pH, fluoride, iron, turbidity and microbial counts, indicating a strong correlation between abattoir effluent discharge and deterioration of water quality. The results obtained from the chemical, physical and microbial analyses of water samples from Inachalo River at the abattoir discharge point revealed varying degrees of deviation from standard permissible limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigerian Standards for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ). These deviations indicate significant alterations to the rivers water quality attributable to the discharge of untreated abattoir effluents. The microbial results revealed 26 colony-forming units (CFU) of E. coli per 100 ml, far above the WHO recommendation of zero CFU/100 ml for drinking water It is recommended that the abattoir should install an efficient wastewater treatment system (e.g., sedimentation tanks, anaerobic digest and filtration units) to reduce organic load, heavy metals and microbial contamination before discharge. Kogi State environmental authorities should implement routine water quality monitoring of Inachalo River to track pollutant trends and take corrective action. Establish vegetative buffer strips along the riverbank to act as natural filters for runoff before it enters the river
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