Bacteriological and Physicochemical Analysis of Sachet Drinking Water in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Packaged drinking water popularly known as “sachet and bottled water” serves a large percentage in increasing access to clean drinking water in Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine the bacteriological and physicochemical characteristics of sachet and bottled water sold in Makurdi metropolis. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out with a total of one hundred and sixty-five samples collected. These comprised of triplicates of fifty sachet water and five bottled water brands purchased using simple random sampling from street vendors within Makurdi metropolis and analyzed using standard methods and results were compared with the recommended guidelines for water quality. Results: The pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen and sodium chloride levels of sachet and bottled water brands ranged from 6.0 to 7.9 and 6.6 to 8.3; 8.4 to 188.4 μS/cm and 14 to 208.4 μS/cm; 4.2 to 94.2 mg/l and 7.5 to 108.1 mg/l; 0.08 to 0.16 mg/l and 0.08 to 0.11 mg/l; 0.0 to 0.4 and 0.0 to 0.4 respectively. The bacteriological quality of the samples was assessed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system for drinking water and organisms isolated include; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus sp., Klebsiella sp., Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. Total coliform count was recorded as Most Probable Number (MPN) of coliform per 100 ml ranging from 0 – 1100 MPN/100 ml. Conclusion: The study revealed high bacteriological contamination which is an indication that portable drinking water was contaminated by sewage or animal waste. There is urgent need to intensify the monitoring of activities of this rapidly expanding industry and enforcing strict hygienic measures with a view to raising standards to improve packaged water quality.