IMPACT OF ABATTOIR EFFLUENT ON THE BACTERIOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF IKPOBA RIVER, EDO STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

The bacteriological and physicochemical properties of Ikpoba River water quality was studied. Sampling was carried out from 3 sampling points designated as station 1 (100 meters before the point were abattoir effluent is discharged into the River), station 2 (the point were abatoir effluent enters the river) and station 3 (100 meters away from station 2). The mean aerobic bacterial counts obtained during the months of September and October ranged from 7.58 x 103 to 11.65 x 103 cfu/ml across the sampling points while the aerobic bacterial counts during the months of November and December ranged from 6.80 x 103 to 1.03 x 104 cfu/ml. Total coliform counts ranged from 8.0 X 104 to 1.15 X 105cfu/ml while the mean E. coli counts ranged from 3.10× 104 to 1.10 × 105cfu/ml. The cultural, morphological and biochemical characterization of the isolates showed the presence of the bacterial genera, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Escherichi, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus and Bacillus. The pH, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, electrolytic conductivity, nitrates and sulphate values fluctuated between the sampling points. The presence of different bacterial genera in this river could largely be attributed to the inflow of the effluents into the river and hence, call for serious concern