Evaluation of Abattoir Effluent on Ground Water Quality

Abstract

The study was carried out on analysing the effect of effluent from abattoir at 20m to 50m distance on the quality of adjacent well water in Arowomole, Ogbomosho. The choice of the location was to reflect the variation in concentration of the parameters of water quality issue: these parameters were based on their relative important in abattoir effluents composition by the wash down from the abattoir activities. Water samples were collected at four wells around the abattoir. The water was examined for physicochemical and microbiological characteristics. Water quality parameter tested were: pH, colour, turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), Total suspended solids (TSS), Total Solid (TS), Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia (NH3) and nitrate, heavy metals (Zn, Fe, Pb, Al) among others. Standard procedures were observed for analysis. The ranges of physicochemical parameters studied were as follows: PH (6.3 – 6.7), TS (21.40 – 26.20mg/l), TSS (18.50 –74.60mg/l), Turbidity (0.3 -6.7NTU), BOD (38.0.2-63.7mg/l), and Conductivity (4.60 – 37.42ms/m) and Nitrate (0.063 – 0.59 mg/l), faecal coliform count exceed the WHO recommended value. The chemical composition of the ground water which was 20m to 50m from the slaughter house also found unsatisfactory as raw water source for drinking purpose. There is need to develop and prevent the water from environmental pollution so that the water will never be a risk to the human health.