Integration of Water Quality Indices and Multivariate Analysis to Evaluate Slaughterhouse Effluent Pollution in the Ako'O River, Cameroon

Abstract

The study focused on the impact of Livestock Development Corporation slaughterhouse effluent on the Ako'o River in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Monthly samples of wastewater and water were collected upstream, downstream, and at the river's discharge point, and the river was monitored for twelve months. The effluent significantly increased the chemical oxygen demand downstream, affecting water quality. Except for temperature, pH, and Cr6+, all other metrics were notably higher downstream due to the influx of slaughterhouse effluent. Analysis using PCA and cluster eclipse plot revealed distinct variability in physicochemical parameters across the four sampling points, with PC1 and PC2 explaining 87.48% of the total variance. The Ako'o River was classified as polluted water, and a fecal coliform/fecal streptococci ratio of 1.34 indicated pathogen contamination from a mixed source. Proper treatment of the slaughterhouse effluent before discharge into the river is essential to preserve the river's beneficial purposes.

Keywords: Slaughterhouse effluent, Pollution, Water quality, River Ako'o