Assessment of microbiological quality of sachet-packaged drinking water in Western Nigeria and its public health significance.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the microbiological quality of sachet-packaged drinking water in Western Nigeria and its impact on public health.


METHODS
Cross-sectional microbiological testing.


METHODS
Ninety-two sachet-packaged water samples were analysed for microbiological and metal qualities. Total bacterial and coliform counts were determined, and the presence of Escherichia coli, an important water quality indicator, was tested. The level of conformity of the water processors with the guidelines of Nigeria's quality regulatory agency was also determined.


RESULTS
Varying levels of microbial contamination were recorded in samples from the different sampling locations. The total bacteria count ranged between 2.86 and 3.45log colony-forming units (cfu)/ml. The highest coliform count recorded was 1.62log cfu/ml. Faecal coliform E. coli was detected in one sample from Oke-Iho and one sample from Okaka, representing 2.2% of total samples. Lead and manganese were not found in any of the samples. However, iron was detected and the highest iron concentration (0.10mg/l) was detected in samples from Ikorodu. The bacteria that were identified from the water samples included E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella sp., Proteus vulgaris, Alcaligenes faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus lactis, Aeromonas sp. and Micrococcus luteum. Many of the water processors did not comply with the guidelines of the quality regulatory agency.


CONCLUSIONS
Some of the sachet-packaged samples of drinking water were of poor quality. The results indicate a need for Nigeria's quality regulatory agency to take appropriate measures in safeguarding public health.
Olaoye
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Division of Food Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK. olaayosegun@yahoo.com
Onilude
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D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D009549:Nigeria; D011634:Public Health; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014871:Water Microbiology / Q000592:standards*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014867:Water