ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF AGBARHO SLAUGHTERHOUSE EFFLUENTS ON THE AGBARHO RIVER IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Direct discharge of waste effluents from slaughterhouses into bodies of water contributes significantly to poor water quality
and contamination in bodies of water. Using standard analytical methods, this study investigated the environmental impact
of Agbarho abattoir effluents on the Agbarho River in Delta State, Nigeria. The following parameters were studied and their
average mean values are as follows: Temperature (30 oC), pH (6.126), Turbidity (22.72 NTU), Conductivity (49.21 mg/l),
TSS (17.85 mg/l), TDS (32 mg/l), oil & grease (0.01 mg/l), DO (9.82mg/l), COD (161.3 mg/l), BOD (2.23 mg/l), total
acidity (8 mg/l), total alkalinity (12). The average mean values for the various analysed parameters were all within the
permissible limits, except for pH (6.125), turbidity (22.72 NTU), COD (161.3 mg/L), and Total Coliform (42.4 mg/L),
which were all above the permissible limits, indicating that the Agbarho River is moderately polluted with organic,
industrial, domestic, and septic waste. According to the study's findings, remediation of the Agbarho River, as well as
intervention of appropriate regulatory bodies (Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Ministry of Environment, and
others), is recommended to ensure the production of high quality treated final effluents by the abattoir industries in order to
protect and preserve the quality of our water bodies.