Physicochemical, heavy metals and microbial pollution of surface and ground water in bodija Municipal Abattoir and its Environs

Surface and ground water pollution is a major problem beclouding most developing nation and the poor method of abattoir effluent waste disposal system being one of the major causes of such pollution. The effluent disposal system of the abattoirs portends environmental and health hazards to the abattoir and its environs and therefore necessitating this study. This study was designed to assess physicochemical parameters, heavy metal concentrations and bacterial constituents of selected wells within Bodija municipal abattoir which serves as the main source of water used for meat processing. Samples of water from the wells in the abattoir and some wells in the neighborhood were collected and analyzed according to standard laboratory procedures. The results obtained revealed the order of mean of heavy metal concentration in sampled abattoir wells (WA) as Fe (0.67±0.26) > Mn (0.27±0.26) > Pb (0.16±0.08) and the order in sampled residential wells (WR) as Pb (0.64±0.33) > Fe (0.54±0.22) > Cu (0.35±0.021) > Mn (0.20±0.03). Abattoir wells had significantly higher coliform and enterobactericeae counts than the residential wells. Virtually all the figures obtained were considerably higher than the permissible standard for drinking water. The public health implication of these findings is especially important because of re-emergence of water borne disease. This survey also indicates that the health status, social and environmental qualities of residents of Bodija abattoir neighborhood will severely be affected.