ISSN: 2641-9459
Authors: Ojedapo OR*, Olaniran O, Okanlawon BM, Adenekan NP and Oyetoke OO
The introduction of sachet water to consumers was to provide safe, hygienic and affordable instant drinking water to the public. Although this is a laudable idea, current trends seem to suggest that sachet drinking water could be a route of transmission of diseases. The objective of this study was to check the bacteriological safety or otherwise of some sachet water packaged in Ogbomoso metropolis. Using a simple random procedure, fifteen brands of sachet water were bought from vendors at different locations. The samples were analyzed using multiple tubes methods and biochemical assays. Results were recorded as Most Probable Number (MPN) of coliform per 100ml of water. The bacteriological quality of the samples was assessed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system for drinking water. Zero (0%) of the sample was Excellent, two (2) (13.3%) were Satisfactory, one (1) (6.7%) was Suspicious and twelve (12) (80%) were Unsatisfactory using the MPN values recorded. The samples were contaminated with faecal coliform. Escherichia coli was detected in some of the samples which could have caused diarrhea, cramps, nausea and other symptoms in the consumers. The level of contamination could be due to inadequate treatment of water samples by the producers, improper use of filters or post-production contamination. The findings suggest the need to enforce the laws that govern the operation of such production outfits as well as educating consumers on the need to purchase sachet water from manufacturers that have been licensed to produce water and whose product bears the stamp of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC). And producers should ensure proper purification of water and maintain hygienic environment for producing the sachet water.
Keywords: Sachet Water; Bacteriological Safety
