Physicochemical and Bacteriological Assessment of the Polyethene
Packaged Sachet Water relied Upon as the Only Available Drinking Water
in Sagamu Local Government Area Of Ogun State, South West, Nigeria
Abstract
This present study was undertaken to study the assessment of the
physicochemical and bacteriological properties in polyethene packaged
sachet water generally known as “pure water” produced and sold in
Sagamu local government area of Ogun state, South West, Nigeria. In this
research, polyethene packaged sachet water from various producers,
sources and distributors were analysed for its physicochemical and
microbiological characteristics. Samples were collected randomly from
six (6) different locations/towns in Sagamu Local Government. The
samples were analyzed for its physicochemical and bacteriological
parameters. The results of the analyses were compared with the
permissible limit set by WHO, EPA, Canada, and NIS. It was found that
most of the parameters were in the expected range of the permissible
limits set by WHO, EPA, Canada, and NIS. However, the pH 4.73 – 6.10 of
the sachet water samples tends to be acidic below the expected range 6.5
– 10.5. The Total Heterotrophic Bacteria count and Enteric Bacteria
count tends to be a little lower below the permissible limits, Total
Enteric Bacteria 300 – 480cfu/100ml with permissible limits of
<500cfu/100ml and Enteric Bacteria 280 – 380cfu/100ml. It was
recommended that water producing industries should site their raw water
site in a safe location free from contamination, the government should
involve the participation of equipped private and government hospitals
with good laboratory to monitor and report accordingly the situation of
all water packaging industries in their vicinity, the government should
also involve the participation of genuine and reputable individuals to
produce and provide paid pipe borne waters to people in their community
and regulatory bodies such as SON and NAFDAC should take responsibility
by continually re-assessing the production and packaging quality of
drinking water in every community.