Year-round Bacteriological Quality of Onyearugbulem Abattoir Wastewaters and Allied Water Bodies in Akure, Nigeria

Aims: This study evaluated the wastewater samples from Onyearugbulem abattoir water supply, 5 m from slaughter and washings, the incinerator, 10m downstream, 100 m downstream and 10 m upstream for bacteriological analysis.

Methodology: Samples were collected according to standard methods for a period of 12 months between November 2014 and October 2015 according to standard methods. The total bacterial counts (TBC), total coliform counts (TCC), fecal coliform counts (FCC) and Escherichia coli counts were assayed using selective growth media while the presumptive identification was done using standard methods.

Results: The aerobic total bacterial count (cfu/ml) of abattoir water supply and incinerator wastewater samples ranged from 5.3 x 103 ± 0.33 to 11.0 x 103 ± 0.82 and 20.56 x 103 ± 6.17 to 61.12 x 103 ± 7.00 respectively. The tentative bacterial isolates include Alcaligenes faecalis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Micrococcus luteus.

Conclusion: This work indicated a high level of bacteria in surface waters associated with Onyearugbulem abattoir and therefore cautions against potential environmental and public health risks related to these bacteria.