Abattoir Waste Management Impacts Surface Water: A Case Study of Ekpan Abattoir, Uvwie Delta.

Application of survey and laboratory methods, discrete abattoir composite water samples was assayed for physicochemical, microbiological and inorganics. The laboratory results showed that some of the assayed parameters were above WHO and NSDWQ Reference Standards. These include BOD (365 mg/l), COD (857 mg/l), alkalinity (72.23 mg/l), total suspended solids (755,25 mg/l) and total Coliform (23.25 CFU/ml). The mean were relatively higher at the point of discharge indicating pollution from the abattoir effluent. Plant nutrients, nitrate (58.70mg/l) in the river water samples surpassed both WHO and NESERA specified standards for river water designated for domestic and irrigation purposes. The impact of abattoir waste on surface water is predominantly high nutrients which could be nitrate, phosphate o ammonia that could lead to eutrophication. Nitrate in water is a serious health risk, animal paunch and gut washed in the river before being sold was the source of Nitrate in the investigated Ekpan River. To minimize the impact of abattoir waste on Ekpan River, appropriate waste management practices should be implemented which includes proper treatment prior to disposal of the generated wastes.