A note on water quality associated with slaughter premises in Bangladesh

Water quality used for washing carcasses and abattoir premises was assessed at two sites in southeast Bangladesh. In addition, the effect of discharging untreated washings from slaughter premises on water purity in the receiving waterways was assessed from pH, dissolved oxygen and electrical conductivity measurements. Premises effluents did not have a significant effect on the physico-chemical properties of the water in the receiving canals, as determined from the difference between the 4 m upstream and 4 m downstream samples, relative to the entry point of the effluent. When a water shortage occurred at one of the premises, water was sourced for washing the carcasses and premises from a canal that was also used for conveying municipal effluent. The discharge water from the premises at this time had a pH, dissolved oxygen content and conductivity of 7.93, 1.84 mg/L and 6.06 mS/cm respectively, and this would be a threat to survival of freshwater animal life.