The Effect Of Agbarho Slaughterhouse Effluent On The Agbarho River Water
1.1. Background
Of Study
Water is the prerequisite of life, mankind
has settled along the Nile, the Euphrates, the Tigris, the Indus and the
Yangtze-Kiang (Marsha et al., 1999).
Since ancient times and well before the past millennium, people have sought
ways of dealing with water (their main commodity and primary source of
drinking, sanitation, irrigation, cultivation, transportation and
communication). Two major water supplies are surface water and ground water and
are the water resources for readily available water for human consumption.
Surface water includes pounds, streams, rivers, oceans and lakes. Pure water
rarely occur in nature due to water capacity to dissolve and absorb surrounding
materials. Surface water is the most readily available, yet the most polluted
as a result of anthropogenic, but happily, controllable activities (David, 2006).In Nigeria, surface water
pollution is being associated with surface runoff, industrial effluent,
cold-room effluent, domestic waste and abattoir effluent. In this study,
emphasis is placed on effluent generated from abattoir processes.
The abattoir industry is an important
component of the livestock industry providing domestic meat supply to over 150
million people and employment opportunities for teaming population in Nigeria
(Nafarnda et al; 2012). However,
majority of the activities going on in most of the abattoir present in Nigeria
are never monitored for regulation purposes. Majority of the abattoir in
Nigeria are not developed and facilities for the treatment of abattoir
effluents are lacking. Potential health risks from waterborne pathogens can
exist in water polluted by abattoir effluents, runoff from feedlots, dairy
farms, grazed pastures, fallow and sod amended with poultry litter, grassland
treated with dairy manure, and sewage sludge treated land. Such contamination
of water bodies from abattoir wastes could constitute significant environmental
and public health hazards (Nafarnda et al,
2012).In Southwestern Nigeria several pathogenic species of bacteria in
abattoir effluent have been identified. These species among others include
Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., in harsh environmental condition
depicting the unfriendly nature of untreated abattoir effluent to the
surrounding environment and human health (Coker et al., 2001). The main wastes originate from killing, hide removal
or de-hairing, paunch handling, rendering, trimming, processing and clean up
operations. The wastes generated from slaughter house usually constitute blood,
grease, inorganic and organic solids, salts and chemical added during
processing operations (Raheemet al). On the average, majority of the
abattoir in Nigeria are sited near a stream, natural pond or river, like the
one present in Agbarho, Ugheli north, Delta state.
Environmental issues resulting from improper
management practices responsible for the pollution of the aquatic environment
with various forms of contaminant has increased in geometric proportion over
the last four decades with concomitant increase in water borne diseases
especially typhoid, diarrhea and dysentery. Abattoirs are generally known all
over the world to pollute the environment either directly or indirectly from
their various processes. It is observed that in Nigeria, many abattoirs dispose
their effluents directly into streams and rivers without any form of
pre-treatment and the slaughtered meat is washed by the same water (Adelegan,
2002).
The Agbarho
abattoir on daily basis produces several gallons of blood, and intestinal
contents and tissues introducing them into the environment including the
Agbarho River. On a visit to the Agbarho abattoir,during a quick survey around
the abattoir, neither holding tank nor waste treatment system/facility was
observed which is obviously an indication that effluent and other solid wastes generated
from the abattoir are been dumped/discharged indiscriminately into the
surrounding. The abattoir was said to have been existence for years now, which
implies that the water body has been receiving abattoir effluent for years.
Note: to avoid ambiguity, abattoir may be used
interchangeably with slaughter house, also wastewater may also be used instead
of effluent.
1.2. Statement Of Problem
Abattoirs are generally known all over the
world to pollute the environment either directly or indirectly from their
various processes hence water quality assessment is essential to the
Agbarho River so as to ascertain the level of impact of the abattoir effluent
periodically discharged to it. As it receives discharged waste water from the
Agbarho abattoir. considering implicated certain bacteria species in abattoir
effluent pollution, not ignoring other processes involved in meet and hide
processing, the analysis will deal with certain physiochemical and biological
parameter of the river water.
Cases of water borne diseases especially
typhoid, diarrhea and dysentery has
resulted as a result of contact with polluted water. It is therefore expedient
to carry out such analysis on the river for awareness purpose, as the users of
the river exploit it for economic and recreational purpose without the full
knowledge of the danger it may pose to human health.
Until now in Nigeria, many abattoirs (Agbarho
Slaughterhouse included) dispose their effluents indiscriminately into streams
and river body and without any form of treatment and mismanage various their
waste. Assumption is being made that publications on effect of abattoir on
water quality would pilot the awakening of effective and sound regulation on
wastewater treatment and abattoir waste management.
In overview, water quality usually degenerate
as a result of indiscriminate and uncontrolled effluent discharge from
abattoirs, accompanied with water borne diseases with no sign of governmental
mitigation plan. However there has not been any study on the relevance of the
abattoir activities on Agbarho River.
1.3. Purpose Of Study
The study seeks to ascertain the effect of
Agbarho slaughterhouse effluent on the Agbarho river water with specific
objectives which include:
a) To check the effect
of the abattoir effluent/waste on the River water quality (if it influences any change in the BOD, DO,
COD, pH, Turbidity, Alkalinity, Total solids and some other physiochemical and
biological properties of the river
water).
b) To check for the
level of impact if there is any.
c)
To
establish that there is a significant relationship between abattoir effluent
and river water quality.
d) To create awareness
on various adverse impacts that may result from the discharge of untreated
abattoir effluent.
Aligning with the objectives stated above the
below questions are made:
I.
What
possible effect does abattoir effluent has on water quality?
II.
To what
extent has the release of the abattoir effluent into the Agbarho River impacted
it?
III. What relationship does the effluent has with
the water quality?
IV. What information is
needed in the discharge of effluent?
1.
The
study will be of great benefit to a number of groups in Nigeria. Government
agencies especially the Delta State Environmental Protection Agency, rank
amongst the top beneficiary of this study
2.
Another
set of interest group that will benefit from the findings of this research will
be the community and society where the abattoir is located, as the study stands
to keep them informed.
3.
The
last set of beneficiary of this study is the international community,
particularly in the area of urgent significance in the uniformity and
standardization of the reporting formats for entities involved in regulation of
abattoir industries or the likes.
The area of this study covers a section of
the Agbarho River around the effluent discharge point. The study is
specifically focused on analysis of water quality around the discharge point as
defined by some physiochemical and biological parameters.
The research is not without limitation as
there are bound to be variation in water quality over time due to the
continuous flow of the river and other activities.
1.6 Study Area
The
Agbarho river serves as the case study with respect to the abattoir effluent.
Agbarho is one of the major town in Delta State in Southern Nigeria.It lies
between latitude N5o 35’ 00’’ and longitude E5o 52’ 00’’.
Agbarho is one of the populated towns in Delta state with an estimated value of
145,000 people.
Agbarho River is an important economic river
in Delta state as various socio-economic activities including vehicle washing
and fishing are possible through the river. The river also serve for the
purpose of sand resources as it accommodates several dredging activities at
various points.People living within the vicinity draw water from the river and
even swim in it.The river originates from Orho a hinterland in Warri and
stretches down westward to Uvwie Local Government Area of the state where it
empties with its creeks into the Atlantic Ocean. The river receives wastes from
municipal dumps and from abattoir sited
along its course.Although, there are more than one abattoirs in Agbarho, Oghara
abattoir is implicated in this study due to its strategic location right by the
course of the Agbarho River and also because it is the major abattoir which
supplies about 65% of the meat for the town residence and other nearby
communities.
1.7Operational Definition Of Term
Abattoir/slaughter
house is usually used to refer to meat packing
industry, large industry involving the slaughtering,
processing, and distribution of cattle, sheep, and hogs. Abattoir operations
are meant to recover the edible portions of slaughtered animals for human
consumption (Fearon et al., 2014).It also refers to
places where animals are killed for their meet. It
is one of the most important industries in Nigeria as it serves as meet
resources and also supplies certain raw materials to several manufacturing
industries. These industries usually generate waste in form of solid or water
(i.e. effluent/wastewater, water
that has been used, as for washing, flushing, or in manufacturing processes).
that may eventually contaminate water system if not well taken care of. The
aftermath effect of the contamination is usually deterioration in the water
quality. Water quality refers to the
physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of
the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic
species and or to any human need or purposes. Such parameters as the one
categorized below define water quality.
1.7.1 Water Quality
Physiochemical Parameters
Temperature:
If
the overall water body temperature of an aquatic system is altered, an aquatic
community shift can be expected.
pH
value: pH is an indicator
of the existence of biological life as most of them thrive in a quite narrow
and critical pH range.
Color: is measured in (ptco)/(Lu). It is the
characteristics spectrum band of a given water body. Color is vital as most
water users, be it domestic or industrial, usually prefer colorless water. Determination of color can help in estimated
costs related to discoloration of the water.
Turbidity: is expressed as the amount of suspended matter in Mg/L or
parts per million (PPM).
Specific
Conductivity: specific
conductivity can be defined as the total amount of dissolved salts present in
water.
Dissolved
Oxygen (DO): DO is the
concentrated amount of oxygen (O2) in dissolved form. It is measured
in Mg/L or (PPM). DO is essential for aquatic life. A low DO (less
than 2Mg/L) would indicate poor water quality and thus would have difficulty in
sustaining many sensitive aquatic lives.
Total
Dissolved Solids (TDS): in
water consist of inorganic salts and dissolved materials. In ambient
conditions, these compounds are present in proportions that create a balanced
solution. If there are additional inputs of dissolved solids to the system, the
balance is altered and detrimental effects may be seen. Inputs include both
natural and anthropogenic source.
Biochemical
Oxygen Demand (BOD): BOD is
a measure of organic pollution to both waste and surface water. High BOD is an
indication of poor water quality. For this tree plantation project, any
discharge of waste into the waterways would affect the water quality and thus
users downstream.
Nitrate nitrogen: The growth of macrophytes and phytoplankton
is stimulated principally by nutrients such as nitrates. Many bodies of
freshwater are currently experiencing influxes of nitrogen and phosphorus from
outside sources. The increasing concentration of available phosphorus allows
plants to assimilate more nitrogen before the phosphorus is depleted. Thus, if
sufficient phosphorus is available, high concentrations of nitrates will lead
to phytoplankton (algae) and macrophyte (aquatic plant) production. This is mostly due to the usage of
fertilizers.
Oil & Grease: To check if there is any indiscriminate
dumping of waste oil or poor management of oily waste within the site.
1.7.2 Some
microbiological Parameters
Total Coliform Count and Faecal Coliform
Count: These tests use coliform bacteria as
indicator organisms. The presence of
these indicative organisms is evidence that the water has been polluted with
faeces of humans or other warm-blooded animals.
EDITOR SOURCES:
1.
The
Effect Of Agbarho Slaughterhouse Effluent On The Agbarho River Water
2.
The
Effect Of Agbarho Slaughterhouse Effluent On The Agbarho River Water
3.
The
Effect Of Agbarho Slaughterhouse Effluent On The Agbarho River Water
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