Analysis of Sachet Water Sold in Umuahia Metropolis

ABSTRACT

A total of five (5) brands of sachets and one (1) brand of bottle water samples were collected from different locations in Umuahia Metropolis and were analyzed microbiologically. The total count of most of the sachet water samples ranges between 1.0 x 10² and 3.0 x 10² cfu/ml, exceeding the limit of 1.0 x 10² CFU/ml. The MPN of coliform counts ranged from 1 to 5 cfu /10² ml of sample. The dominant bacteria isolates were Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, and Klebsiella Species. The bottle water sample analyzed showed no bacterial growth. Bacteriological analysis showed that 100/100 (100%) of the samples of sachet water tested showed positive coliform counts. However, the number of coliform present were within the range of approved coliform level in sachet water using the Mac-Crady's Probability Table. The multiple tube technique was used for the analysis with the use of the MacConkey broth. Escherichia coli was confirmed using Eijkman’s test as the confirmatory test. These contaminants could be as a result of improper sterilization of the water before packaging or contamination due to poor handling during production, transportation or sales of such products. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                                    i

Certification                                                                                               ii

Dedication                                                                                                 iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                     iv

Table of contents                                                                                        v

List of tables                                                                                              vi

Abstract                                                                                                     vii

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Introduction                                                                                          1

1.2  Aim and objective                                                                                4

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature review                                                                                  6

2.1  Overview of water                                                                                7

2.1.2 Main sources of domestic water                                                        8

2.2   Sources of water pollution                                                                  9

2.3   Water related health risk                                                                     9

2.4   Water-washed disease                                                                         9

2.5   Water borne diseases                                                                           10

2.6   Problems due to chemically contaminated water                                11

2.7   Problems due to microbiologically contaminated water                     11

2.8  Assessment of water quality                                                                 12

2.8.1 Biological analysis                                                                              12

2.9  Nigerian standard for drinking water                                                    13

2.9.1 Drinking water quality standard used in Nigeria                                13

2.9.2  Packaged waters in the market                                                           14

2.9.3 The role of “pure water” producers towards national development    16

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and methods                                                                           18

3.1 Study area and sampling of water                                                          18

3.2 Methodology                                                                                          18

3.3 Method                                                                                                   19

3.4 Identification of isolates                                                                         20

3.5 Total bacteria count                                                                                21

3.6 Presumptive coliform test                                                                       21

3.7 Confirmatory E.coli test                                                                          22

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Results                                                                                                     23

4.1 Interpretation of Result                                                                            28

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Discussion                                                                                                30

5.2 Conclusion                                                                                               30

5.3 Recommendation                                                                                     31

References                                                                                                     33

Appendix                                                                                                        37