Microbiological quality of sachet and bottled water produced and marketed around Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, Nigeria
Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
U. P.
Abstract
Three methods of bacteriological analysis of the water samples, namely total viable count, multiple tube (most probable number) method and membrane filtration analysis, were used for this study. The bacterial organisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, Eschericia coli, Enterobacter spp and Salmonella spp. The total heterotrophic bacterial counts in sachet water sample ranged between 15 and 190 ml-1 and the Geometric Mean total heterotrophic counts varied from the lowest in Divine water (7. 45 ml-1) to the highest in Deogratias pure water (1.95 × 10-2 ml-1). Two brands of bottled water were found to contain total coliform that ranged between 1 and 120 100 ml-1. Geometric mean coliform counts varied from the lowest in Crystal water (4.23, 100 ml-1) to the highest count in Vriis water (2.04 × 10-2, 100 ml-1). These levels particularly those of sachet water samples far exceeded the limits of EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels(MCLs) of <1.0×102 of heterotrophic count in drinking water as stipulated by USEPA. The two groups of water samples (sachet and bottled waters) were found not to be satisfactory. It is therefore recommended that the enforcement agencies in the country (NAFDAC) and the Ministry of Health need to get the producers of packaged water to comply with the national drinking water guidelines while communities on their part should be educated and enlightened on the ill effects of patronizing fake vendors.
Description
This work contains tables and figures
Keywords
Bottled water, quality, microbiological, Owerri, sachet, coliform, heterotrophic count, Department of Biotechnology
Citation
Mgbemena, I. C. (2016). Mocrobiological quality of sachet and bottled water produced and marketed around Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, Nigeria. Academic Journal of Science, 5(1), 459 - 470