THE MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITIES OF BOTTLE AND SACHET PACKAGED WATER SOLD IN UMUAHIA METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the microbiological qualities of bottled and sachet packaged water sold in Umuahia Metropolis to determine if they comply with regulatory standards. The research aims to assess and compare the bacteriological safety of these two types of packaged water by analyzing 10 samples, consisting of five bottled water brands and five sachet water brands, purchased from various outlets within the metropolis. All water samples were stored in cool boxes and transported to the laboratory for processing within six hours of collection.

The bacteriological analysis involved serial dilution and plating techniques to isolate and identify microbial contaminants. Samples were plated on nutrient agar and potato dextrose agar for bacterial and fungal growth, respectively, and incubated at appropriate temperatures. Various biochemical tests, including Gram staining, catalase, coagulase, oxidase, citrate utilization, indole, urease, Voges-Proskauer, and methyl red tests, were performed to identify bacterial isolates. Additionally, the total and fecal coliform counts were determined using the multiple tube fermentation technique, with results expressed as colony-forming units per 100ml (cfu/100ml).

The findings revealed significant microbial contamination in some samples, particularly among sachet water brands, raising concerns about the safety and compliance of certain packaged water with regulatory standards. Coliform counts were also measured to assess the presence of fecal contamination, which serves as an indicator of water quality. The study highlights the need for stricter regulatory enforcement to ensure that packaged water sold in Umuahia Metropolis meets the required microbiological safety standards, thereby protecting public health.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction

1.1     Aims and Objectives

CHAPTER TWO

2.0       Literature Review

2.1     Main Sources of Domestic Water

2.2     Sources of Water Pollution

2.3     Water Related Health Risk

2.4     Water-Washed Diseases

2.5     Water Borne Diseases

2.6     Problems Due To Chemically Contaminated Water

2.7     Problems Due To Microbiologically Contaminated Water

2.8     Assessment of Water Quality

2.9     Biological Analysis

2.10   Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water

2.10.1  Drinking Water Quality Standard Used In Nigeria

2.10.2  Packaged Waters in the Market

2.10.3  The Role Of Packaged / “Pure Water” Producers towards National Development

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     Materials and Methods

3.1     Study Area

3.2     Sampling of Water

3.3     Media Preparation

3.4     Bacteriological Analysis

3.5     Identification and Characterization Of Isolates

3.6     Gram Staining

3.7     Motility Test by Hanging Dropmethod

3.8     Biochemical Tests

3.8.1 Catalase Test

3.8.2  Coagulase Test (Slide test)

3.8.3  Oxidase Test

3.8.4  Citrate Utilization Test

3.8.5  Indole Test

3.8.6  Urease Test

3.8.7  Voges-Proskauer Test

3.8.8  Methyl Red Test

3.9     Lactophenol Cotton Blue Staining

3.9.1 Sugar utilization test

3.9.2 Coliform Count

3.9.3   Presumptive test

3.9.4  Confirmed test

3.9.5 Complete test

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1     Results

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1     Discussion

5.2     Conclusion

5.2     Recommendations

References

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1a:      Total mean microbial count of known bottle water sample

Table 4.1b:      Total mean microbial count of known sachet water sample

Table 4.2a:      Occurrence of presumption coliform in tubes of the MPN known bottle

                        samples

Table 4.2b:      Occurrence of presumption coliform in tubes of the MPN known sachet

                        samples

Table 4.3:         Identification and characterization of bacterial Isolate

Table 4.4:        Identification and characterization of Fungal Isolates

Table 4.5a:      Percentages occurrence of isolates of known bottle water sample.

Table 4.5b.      Percentages occurrence of isolates of known Sachet water sample.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0         INTRODUCTION

 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. In many developing countries, availability of water has become a critical and urgent problem and it is a matter of great concern to families and communities depending on Non-public water supply system (Okonko et al., 2008). Increase in human population has exerted an enormous pressure on the provision of safe drinking water in developing countries (Umeh et al., 2005). Towards the Millennium Development Goals–Action for Water and Environmental Sanitation is timely in the light of the problem of poor availability and access to good drinking water in many countries of the world including Nigeria. “About one – fifth of the world’s population lack access to safe drinking water, and about half lack adequate sanitation. About 40 percent of the world’s population lives in countries with moderate to high water stress.  By 2025, this figure could rise to 50 percent. Yet, with the help of policy and legal reform, international cooperation, community and private sector participation, technical innovation – there are encouraging signs that the crisis could be averted.

The connectivity between poverty, hunger, availability, affordability and access to drinking water to sustainable development is succinctly described by the goals of the millennium declaration. “The links between water, health and poverty are numerous and complex. Access to safe water affects adequate sanitation which in turn drives the risk of water borne diseases especially in poor urban communities. The urban poor often spend up to 10 - 20 times more on water from vendors than piped water. The inability of Government to consistently provide adequate water contributed to the proliferation of the so-called ‘pure water’ manufacture in Nigeria. The provision of drinking water that is not only safe, but tasteless, odourless and clean in appearance is top priority in any country that cares for good health, and poverty alleviation towards sustainable development. Consumers cannot by themselves ascertain the quality of drinking water. Naturally, water that appears dirty, discolored, smelly or with unpleasant taste will be treated with grave suspicion by consumers, thus causing them to find an alternative. However, appearance and other organoleptic properties are not there to make Water Quality Assurance (Akunyili, 2003).Unsafe water is a global public health threat, placing persons at risk for a host of diarrheal and other diseases as well as chemical intoxication(Hughes and Koplan, 2005). Unsanitary water has particularly devastating effects on young children in the developing world.  Each year, more than 2 million persons, mostly children less than 5 years of age, die of diarrhea disease (Kosek et al., 2003; Parashar et al., 2003). For children in this age group, diarrheal disease accounted for 17% of all death from 2000 to 2003(WHO, 2005), ranking third among causes of death, after neonatal causes and acute respiratory infections. Nearly 90% of diarrheal-related deaths have been attributed to unsafe or inadequate water supplies and sanitation (WHO, 2004) conditions affecting a large part of the world’s   population (Hughes and Koplan, 2005).

 An estimated 1.1 billion persons (one sixth of the world’s population) lack access to clean water and 2.6 billion to adequate sanitation (WHO, 2005; Hughes and Koplan, 2005). The principal objectives of municipal water are the production and the distribution of safe water that is fit for human consumption (Lamikanra, 1999; Okonko et al., 2008). Recently in Nigeria, drinking water is commercially available in easy-to-open 50-60ml polyethylene sacks known as sachet/pure water (Umeh et al., 2005).The water vending is a flourishing business in Umuahia Nigeria and many people are lured into this business for getting easy returns. The major supply which has become popular among the medium and low income groups are the cheap nylon sachets either registered with the regulatory body (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC) or without registration. Conformation with microbiological standard is of special interest because of the capacity of water to spread diseases within a large population.

 Although the standards vary from place to place, the objective anywhere is to reduce the possibility of spreading waterborne diseases in addition to being pleasant to drink, which implies that it must be wholesome and palatable in all respects (Edema et al., 2001; Okonko et al., 2008). A collaborative, interdisciplinary effort to ensure global access to safe water, basic sanitation, and improved hygiene is the foundation for ending cycle of poverty and diseases (Hughes and Koplan, 2005). At the end of 2000 United Nations (UN) Millennium Summit, member states adopted a set of 8 goals and related targets and indicators aimed at helping to end human. Poverty and its ramifications (Sachs and McArthur, 2005). According to Hughes and Koplan, (2005), among these millennium.

Development Goals is a call to halve by the year 2015 the proportion of persons without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Towards the end of March 2005, the UN launched the “International Decade for Action: Water for Life 2005-2015” (UN, 2005; Bartram et al., 2005). Success in reaching these targets will help achieve the other goals, increase work force productivity, and substantially reduce the amount of time that women and children spend collecting and storing water, which will free them to pursue other productive and educational activities (Hughes and Koplan, 2005).

According to Bartram et al., (2005), the WHO-sponsored International Network for the Promotion of Safe Household Water Treatment and Storage, a global collaboration of UN and bilateral agencies, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and the private sector, could serve as a model for improving coordination of international efforts in this area of global safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Innovative approaches towards improving water, sanitation, and hygiene must be implemented and evaluated.  A number of studies conducted in a variety of geographic settings have shown that interventions such as point-of-use disinfection of water and educational efforts to improve personal hygiene help reduce disease prevalence (Clasen and Cairncross, 2004). These studies also highlighted the importance of tailoring such interventions to local situations (Hughes and Koplan, 2005).A recent study in an area in rural western Kenya that had turbid source of water found that household use of flocculants disinfectant Preparation helped to reduce the prevalence of diarrhea in children less than 2 years of age (Crump et al., 2005). Studies in refugee camps in Africa (Peterson et al., 1998) and urban slums in Asia (Luby et al., 2005) have reported that hand-washing with soap reduced the prevalence of diarrhea in all age groups and lowered the incidence of diarrhea and pneumonia in children less than 5 years of age.

1.1       AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1.  To assess and compare the microbiological qualities of bottle and sachet packaged water sold in Umuahia Metropolis.

2.  To find out if the packaged water sold, is in conformity or otherwise with the standards set by the regulatory body.

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