An assessment of the health and social economic implications of sachet water in Ibadan Nigeria: a public health challenge
Adekunle, L.V.; Sridhar, M.K.C.; Ajayi, A.A.; Oluwade, P.A.; Olawuyi, J.F.
African Journal of Biomedical Research 7(1): 5-8
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1119-5096 Document Number: 259907
The inadequacy of pipe borne water in the Ibadan Metropolis of Nigeria has become endemic. This inadequacy is both in quantity and quality of public water supply. As an alternative to the water supply, small scale industrial establishments came up with 'PURE WATER', i.e. 0.5 litres of water in nylon sachets, which are electrically heated, sealed at both ends and widely patronized by both low and middle class Nigerians. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of such pure water. Stratified, simple random sampling procedures were used to select 78 samples from 20 brands of sachet water from the leading hawkers/vendors. The samples were subjected to physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis. For chemical analysis, Hanna's 100 spectrophotometer plus chemical reagents were used. The water samples were assessed for coliform and other intestinal bacteria using MKC cowkery broth (MM) and Brilliant Green Bile Broth (BGBB). Multiple tube method was employed. The results showed that the physical parameters were within WHO limits (for drinking water quality) except for pH which ranged from 6.6 to 9.7. Some chemical parameters were also within the WHO guideline values; however aluminium, which ranged from 0.00 to 0.34 mg/litre, fluoride concentration (0.01-1.87 mg/I) and cyanide (0.000-0175) were not. The bacteriological analysis showed five (n=5 or 6.4%) samples with bacterial growth. The bacteria identified included Klebsiella sp., Streptococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.