Comparative Study Of The Microbial Quality Of A Selected Brand Of Sachet And Bottle Water Sold In Umuahia Abia State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Safe and potable water supplies in urban centres in Nigeria are still inadequate in spite of over five decades of independence and several efforts from various governments. This study was aimed to assess and compare the microbiological qualities of bottle and sachet packaged water sold in Umuahia Metropolis. A total of five (5) known sachets water and five known bottle water samples were purchased from different location in Umuahia Metropolis and analyzed using microbiological standard method. The bacteria isolate were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella species, Proteus mirabilis and Enterobacter aerogenes while the fungal isolate were Aspergillus Niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Aspergillus flavus. The mean Microbial load of sachet water sample is higher compare to the bottle water sample. They were slightly high and exceeding the recommended standard limit for water 1.0 x 102 CFU/ml. The result of the presumptive coliform indicates that bottle water has <2 coliform which means there is no coliform contamination found in bottle water compare to sachet water it was observed that the sachet water contain more bacterial isolates than the bottle water sample. The dominant bacterial species was Escherichia coli with percentage of 55.7% while the dominant fungal species was Aspergillus niger having percentage occurrence of 32.5%. The microbial 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

Declaration ﾿ ii

Certification ﾿ iii

Dedication ﾿ iv

Acknowledgements ﾿ v

Table of Contents ﾿ vi

List of Tables ﾿ viii

Abstract ﾿ ix

CHAPTER ONE: ﾿ INTRODUCTION 

1.1 ﾿ Aims and Objectives ﾿ 4

CHAPTER TWO: ﾿ LITERATURE REVIEW 

2.1 ﾿ Main Sources of Domestic Water ﾿ 6

2.2 ﾿ Sources of Water Pollution ﾿ 7

2.3 ﾿ Water Related Health Risk ﾿ 8

2.4 ﾿ Water-Washed Diseases ﾿ 8

2.5 ﾿ Water Borne Diseases ﾿ 8

2.6 ﾿ Problems Due to Chemically Contaminated Water ﾿ 9

2.7 ﾿ Problems Due to Microbiologically Contaminated Water ﾿ 9

2.8 ﾿ Assessment of Water Quality ﾿ 10

2.9 ﾿ Biological Analysis ﾿ 11

2.10 ﾿ Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water ﾿ 11

2.10.1 ﾿ Drinking Water Quality Standard Used in Nigeria ﾿ 11

2.10.2 ﾿ Packaged Waters in the Market  ﾿ 12

2.10.3 ﾿ The Role of Packaged / “Pure Water” Producers towards National Development ﾿ 14

CHAPTER THREE:  ﾿ MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 ﾿ Study Area ﾿ 16

3.2 ﾿ Sampling of Water ﾿ 16

3.3    ﾿ Media Preparation ﾿ 16

3.4 ﾿ Bacteriological Analysis ﾿ 16

3.5      Identification and Characterization of Isolates ﾿ 17

3.6 ﾿ Gram Staining ﾿ 17

3.7 ﾿ Motility Test by Hanging Dropmethod ﾿ 17

3.8       Biochemical Tests ﾿ 18

3.8.1    Catalase Test ﾿ 18

3.8.2    Coagulase Test (Slide test) ﾿ 18

3.8.3    Oxidase Test ﾿ 18

3.8.4    Citrate Utilization Test ﾿ 19

3.8.5    Indole Test ﾿ 19

3.8.6    Urease Test ﾿ 19

3.8.7    Voges-Proskauer Test ﾿ 20

3.8.8    Methyl Red Test ﾿ 20

3.9        Lactophenol Cotton Blue Staining ﾿ 21

3.9.1    Sugar utilization test ﾿ 21

3.9.2     Coliform Count ﾿ 21

3.9.3     Presumptive test ﾿ 22

3.9.4   Confirmed test ﾿ 22

3.9.5    Complete test ﾿ 22

CHAPTER FOUR: ﾿ RESULT ﾿ 23

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 31

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 33

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 33

References ﾿ 35