The Effect of Minna Abattoir Waste on Surface Water Quality II

Discharging abattoir waste into a river or stream can have adverse effects on water quality. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Minna abattoir wastes on the receiving stream by analyzing the organic parameters of water samples taken at 3 different sections of the stream into which the abattoir effluent is discharged. The sections are: Upstream (US); Midstream (MS) (the point where the abattoir waste meets with the stream) a nd Downstream (DS) during the wet season of 2006. The results of the water analyses showed the various ranges of values obtained as follows: Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) are 33.41, 23.89 and 22.50 mg L 1 for US, MS and DS, respectively Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) are 2.20, 2.73 and 1.93 mg L 1 for US, MS and DS, respectively, while Dissolved Oxygen (DO) are 0.85, 0.80 and 0.85 mg L 1 for US, MS and DS in that order. The BOD and DO values are at variance with the allowable limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. The results showed that the abattoir effluent has lowered the quality of the receiving stream.