Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties and Bacteriological Quality of Abattoir Wastewater

Aims: The present study determined the physicochemical properties and bacterial composition of abattoir wastewater. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. Methodology: Physicochemical parameters and heavy metal composition of abattoir wastewater were determined using standard methods. Bacteria were isolated using standard microbiological methods and their identity confirmed using 16S rRNA method. Results: Temperature of the wastewater was 27.31oC while the pH value was 6.64. The total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration in the wastewater was 675 mg/L while the total suspended solids (TSS) concentration in the wastewater was 53.25 mg/L. The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of the wastewater was 524 mg/L while the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the wastewater was 1021 mg/L. Heavy metals detected in the wastewater were cadmium, iron, manganese, lead and zinc with iron having the highest and significant concentration of 4.48. Bacteria isolated from abattoir wastewater were Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella oxytoca, Salmonella sp, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. Escherichia coli was the highest occurring isolate with 30% occurrence rate while Salmonella sp was the least occurring isolate with 5.5% occurrence rate. Conclusion: The abattoir wastewater investigated had a high load of organic wastes and high counts of bacteria. Bacteria isolated included pathogenic strains.