Journals Information
Natural Resources and Conservation Vol. 5(1), pp. 13 - 20
DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2017.050102
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An Assessment of the Bacteriological Quality of Commercial Sachet Packaged Water Brands in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
Onuorah Samuel *, Odibo Frederick , Orji Michael
Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B. 5025 Awka, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Some Sachet water brands sold in Awka, Nigeria were assessed bacteriologically to confirm their compliance with the World Health Organization standard for drinking water. The temperature, pH, total bacterial count, total coliform count, faecal coliform count, faecal Enterococci count and Clostridium perfringens count were determined using standard techniques. The temperature values were 27-29℃; pH, 6.2-7.0; total bacterial count, 35-50cfu/ml; total colifom count, 4-20MPN/100ml; faecal coliform count, 0-10MPN/100ml; faecal Enterococci count, 0-5MPN/100ml while Clostridium perfringens were absent in all the brands assessed. The bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli (9.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (18.0%), Enterobacter aerogenes (17.5%), Bacillus cereus (14.6%), pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.1%), Proteus mirabilis (12.1%) and Enterococcus faecalis (8.0%). Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Enterococcus faecalis were isolated from 66.67%, 46.67%, 40.00%, 33.33%, 53.33%, 26.67% and 20.00% respectively of the brands. The coliforms (27.2%) were the predominant of all the bacterial isolates in the samples. Most of the brands assessed were of poor bacteriological quality and are therefore unfit for drinking without adequate treatment. Routine monitoring of sachet water production and handling by regulatory bodies is commended to handling by regulatory bodies is recommended to safeguard the health of the consuming public.
KEYWORDS
Assessment, Bacteriological, Quality, Commercial, Sachet and Water
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Onuorah Samuel , Odibo Frederick , Orji Michael , "An Assessment of the Bacteriological Quality of Commercial Sachet Packaged Water Brands in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria," Natural Resources and Conservation, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 13 - 20, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2017.050102.
(b). APA Format:
Onuorah Samuel , Odibo Frederick , Orji Michael (2017). An Assessment of the Bacteriological Quality of Commercial Sachet Packaged Water Brands in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Natural Resources and Conservation, 5(1), 13 - 20. DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2017.050102.