Environmental and Health Impacts of Abattoir Activities on the Water Quality of River Systems in Warri and Its Environs

—The unregulated release of industrial wastewater from specific points into freshwater ecosystems, along with the subsequent degradation of water quality, remains widely undocumented in numerous developing nations, including Nigeria. This study aims to assess the concentrations of physicochemical, heavy metals and microbiological load around water bodies in 3 abattoirs in Warri using analytical techniques. Samples were collected during the wet and dry season. The physicochemical concentrations during the wet and dry season were of the following range: pH (6.5-7.5), Turbidity (2-2.5 NTU), Total dissolved solids (120-315.9 mg/L), Total suspended solids (10-40 mg/L), Biochemical oxygen demand (3-15 mg/L), Ammonia (0.2-1.2 mg/L), Nitrate (0.4-3 mg/L), Total Nitrogen (0.3-2 mg/L), Electrical conductivity (220-400 μS/cm), and Dissolved Oxygen (5.2-6.5 mg/L). The heavy metal concentrations in water samples from abattoir areas around Warri during both the wet and dry seasons revealed alarming levels surpassing WHO standards. The concentrations of Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), and Copper (Cu) ranged from 0.8 to 15 mg/L. These elevated concentrations were attributed to runoff from abattoir activities, particularly the use of car tires for defurring animals, and inadequate waste management practices. The results also reveal heightened levels of total coliform Count, Escherichia Coliform, Enterococci, and Total Heterotrophic Bacteria, surpassing established safety thresholds and emphasizing the urgent need for effective pollution control measures. The findings in this study shows the necessity for integrated environmental management practices, regulatory frameworks, and community awareness initiatives to mitigate the adverse effects of the effluents