Bacteriological Assessment of a Tidal Creek Receiving Slaughterhouse Wastes in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Wastes from abattoir arise from undigested ingesta, bones, horns, hairs and aborted fetuses, blood, gut contents, urine and water are discharged into surface water close to an abattoir in Yenagoa metropolis, Nigeria. This study investigated the effects of abattoir wastes on a tidal creek in Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Triplicate samples were collected from 5 stations viz: A (about 200 m upstream of the abattoir activity), B (about 100 m upstream of the abattoir activity), C (about 10 m radius of the abattoir waste disposal point), D (about 100 m downstream of the abattoir activity) and E (about 200 m downstream of the abattoir activity). Standard bacteriological method was employed for the analysis of the water samples. Results showed that total heterotrophic bacteria, total coliform and fecal coliform ranged from 0.74 – 8.43 x 106 cfu/ml, 8.10 – 206.67MPN/100 ml and 5.03 – 170.00 MPN/100ml respectively. Analysis of variance showed that there were no significance difference (P>0.05) among the various location apart samples around the effluent disposal area, which was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to other locations. The bacteria populations were higher than the limits specified by World Health Organization/Food and Agricultural Organization and Standard Organization of Nigeria for drinking water. The bacteria diversity tentatively identified includes Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Micrococcus, Proteus, Salmonella, Klesbsiella, Bacillus, Citrobacter, Shigella species, Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. The similarity interaction between the various sampling locations with respect to bacteria isolate ranged from 50.00% to 72.73%, being similar based critical level of significance = 50%. The findings showed that abattoir effluents are having impact on bacteriological quality of tidal creek of Ikoli, Bayelsa state. Hence the need for sustainable management processes of the effluents prior to discharge.