ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY STATUS OF SACHET WATER SOLD IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Water is indispensable to the normal functioning of the human body and life as a whole. Research has proven that majority of countries in the world still lack access to a consistent supply of potable water especially for drinking. Water of good quality is necessary if public health must be maintained and protected as one is as healthy as the quality of water he drinks. Sachet water is an innovation that came up early 2000s and ever since it has gained massive popularity amongst African countries, Nigeria inclusive. Its wide acceptance has been attributed to its availability as an affordable source of safe drinking water. This study was done to ascertain the quality status of five commonly consumed brands of sachet water in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Using the APHA standard methods, the physicochemical as well biological parameters were determined. The results obtained showed that all the samples were consistent with NSDWQ and WHO physiochemical standard for drinking water but most of them failed to meet the biological standards. Four out of the five samples were contaminated with coliform and two out of this four also tested positive for E.coli contamination. This implies that the standard of operation of sachet water manufacturers need to be improved to curtail further contamination and ensure that wholesome water is packaged for consumption by the general public. If left unchecked, this puts consumers at a potential risk of abdominal discomfort amongst other infections that are waterborne. Hence, there is need to routinely check the activities of these industries by SON and other relevant bodies. Improved manufacturing procedures should also be implemented to ensure that sachet water remains a healthy source of potable water