Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of storage on the physicochemical status and bacteriological quality of sachet water produced and sold in Abeokuta metropolis, Nigeria. Ten brands of sachet water were collected within 24 hours of production and stored at ambient temperature. Sub-samples were drawn from the stock samples immediately for physico-chemical and microbiological analyses and after two months. Physical parameters were determined by instrumental methods. Cationic and anionic constituents were determined by standard titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods, trace and heavy water were determined by Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer. The study revealed that all the brands of water analyzed were physically and chemically wholesome and met the WHO standards. Five brands (50%) of the water had total viable and coliform count above the recommended count of 100cfu/m and zero cfu/ml, respectively. pH values increased in all brands to acceptable WHO limits within 2 months of storage except for sample 3 and 4 which decreases below the acceptable limit. Majorly dissolved oxygen and nitrate values decreased through the investigation period. Total and faecal coliform appeared in 50% of sachet water samples analyzed immediately after production and were no longer detected after storing for two months except for sample 4. Results of the experiment indicate that 60% of the brands analyzed met the WHO guideline limit for drinking especially for the physico-chemical parameters while the majority failed in the microbiological essay when stored at ambient temperature for the two-month investigation period.KEYWORDS: Coliforms, Conductivity, Microbiological Assay, Physical and Chemical Parameters,Turbidity, Sachet Water
Highlights
Water of good drinking quality is of basic importance to human physiology and man’s continued existence depends very much on its availability
The study confirmed that presence of dissolved oxygen coupled with availability of organic material and nutrients aided continuous and rapid proliferation of bacteria in the sample of sachet water tested over time
It was evident from the study that sachet water sampled in Abeokuta metropolis at the first week of production met the recommended standards for physical and chemical qualities but about 75% of the water brands were microbiologically unwholesome as the bulk of sachet water brands were contaminated by coliform bacteria and such coliform bacteria die off later as the storage time increases
Summary
Water of good drinking quality is of basic importance to human physiology and man’s continued existence depends very much on its availability. An average man (of 53 kg – 63 kg body weight), requires about 3 litres of water in liquid and food daily to keep healthy (Wardlow et al, 2004). This fact accounts for why water is regarded as one of the most indispensable substances in life. Given the Federal Ministry of Health statistics, only about 30% of Nigerians have access to potable water, the United Nations estimated that about 1.2 billion people all over the world lack access to potable water (Oyeku et al, 2001; Ajewole, 2005)
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