Abstract

An assessment of surface water around Gboko abattoir was conducted to ascertain the pollution status of water around the area. The results showed mean values as: total dissolved solids (TDS), 1026.78 mg/L; TSS, 565.22 mg/L; dissolved oxygen (DO), 5.0 mg/L; phosphate, 8.89 mg/L and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 484.64 mg/L. These values were above regulatory standards. The values of; pH (6.6), sulphate (86.91 mg/L), nitrate (41.45 mg/L) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) (903.30 mg/L) fell within WHO maximum permissible limits for drinking water. The mean concentrations of: Pb, 0.2892 ppm; Cr, 0.0598 ppm; Ni, 0.1031 ppm and Cd, 0.0110 ppm were above the control and standard safe limits for: Pb, 0.01 mg/L; Cr, 0.05 mg/L; Ni, 0.02 and 0.07 mg/L and Cd, 0.003 mg/L in water. Zn had mean concentration value of 0.7635 ppm which was below standards but higher than the control water sample. Correlation coefficients revealed positive and significant correlations between the pairs of metals in water. The results of this study showed that the activities at the abattoir were contributing to the pollution load of water in the area. It is therefore recommended that the activities of the abattoir should be monitored closely by relevant agencies in order to prevent full-blown environmental problems and attendance health hazards in the near future.

Key words: Abattoir, surface water, heavy metals, physico-chemical parameters, correlation coefficient.