Microbial Load of Abattoir Effluents and Groundwater Quality in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State

This research investigates the microbiological load of slaughterhouse effluents and the quality of groundwater in Port Harcourt metropolitan, Rivers State, during a 12-month period. Forty-nine water samples (forty-eight groundwater and one surface) were taken from four abattoirs and a control location located 1500 meters from the Iwofe slaughterhouse. Microbial parameters, including Total Heterotrophic Fungi (THF), Total Heterotrophic Bacteria (THB), Hydrocarbon-Utilizing Bacteria (HUB), Hydrocarbon-Utilizing Fungi (HUF), and Vibrio spp., were examined in the laboratory and compared to the control using an experimental and completely randomised design owing to site similarity. The investigation indicated that Woji exhibited a significant THB level (3.1500 CFU g⁻¹), above NSDWQ standards of 0.00 CFU g⁻¹ for potable water. The research identified Vibrio spp. at Eliozu (0.0118 CFU g⁻¹) and Eagle Island (0.0150 CFU g⁻¹) during the wet season, indicating substantial public health risks, while increased HUF levels at Iwofe (0.0150 CFU g⁻¹) imply sluggish biodegradation processes that could adversely affect long-term groundwater quality. The study advised, among other recommendations, that the Ministries of Environment and Health ensure the implementation of sustainable waste management practices, such as waste treatment, recycling, and reuse, in all abattoirs to mitigate the release of untreated, reusable, and hazardous wastes that impact human and biodiversity health. Environmentalists and veterinarians must guarantee the implementation of proper sanitary and hygienic procedures in the management of liquid, solid, and gaseous waste produced in abattoirs to mitigate the detrimental impacts of slaughterhouse waste on humans and the ecosystem.