Water Quality of Selected Sachet Water Brands Sold in Sango-Ota, Nigeria

Abstract

Clean and safe water drinking is essential for the attainment of the United Nations sustainable development goals. The study assessed the physical and chemical parameters of ten (10) brands of sachet water sold at Sango-Ota in Ogun State, Nigeria. The physical parameters (temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), power of hydrogen (pH) and turbidity) and chemical parameters ((calcium (Ca), potassium (K), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe) and chloride (Cl)) of the sachet water samples were determined. The physical parameter tests were analysed using Hanna Instruments (Model HI 98130). The compliance of the physico-chemical parameters of the samples with the drinking water standard requirements of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Nigeria Standard Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) was analysed. The pH values of the samples were within the range 6.5-8.5, in conformity with the WHO and NSDWQ standard for drinking water. The electrical conductivity ranged from 0.02 - 0.06 µS/cm, falling within the permissible limit (1000 µS/cm) of WHO standard. The TDS of 0.01 - 0.03 mg/l were within the recommended permissible limit (1000mg/l) recommended by WHO. Similarly, the TDS, TSS and Turbidity were within the recommended permissible limits of the WHO. For the chemical parameters, the concentrations of K, Cu, Mn, Zn, Mg, Fe and Cl in the sachet water samples were within the WHO permissible limits of drinking water. However, some brands had their Ca concentrations above the WHO drinking water permissible limit. Generally, all the brands of sachet water samples studied were considered safe for drinking.