Analyses of the physicochemical and microbiological qualities of selected sachet water brands in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the physicochemical and microbiological qualities of five sachet water brands that aremostly consumed in Onitsha. The researchers used respective meters for the physical parameters, an atomicabsorption spectrophotometer machine for the heavy metal determinations and streak-plate method for thedetermination of microbiological parameters. The five sachet water brands that were used for the study wereelicited from the respondents in Onitsha using a questionnaire. Averaged results of the physicochemicalparameters showed that pH yielded 5.56, electrical conductivity yielded 0.2286μS/m, turbidity yielded0.0058NTU, total dissolved solids yielded 54.28mg/l and total suspended solids yielded 35.3mg/l. In addition,averaged results of the heavy metal parameters showed that lead yielded 0.0108mg/l, cadmium yielded0.0284mg/l, copper yielded 0.0386mg/l, iron yielded 2.15mg/l, zinc yielded 0.738mg/l, chromium yielded0.0412mg/l and cobolt yielded 0.0902mg/l. Results of the microbiological parameters showed that for totalcount, Olek yielded 79 x 103MPN/100ml, Nation yielded 48 x 103MPN/100ml, De-beste yielded 19 x104MPN/100ml, Jemok yielded 66 x 103MPN/100ml and Aqua-Rapha yielded 98 x 102MPN/100ml. Thestudy recommended that the qualities of sachet water brands should be in line with NSDWQ standards with aview to raising standard in the industry and reassuring the public of the safety of these products for publicconsumption. Keywords: analyses, microbiological, Onitsha, physicochemical, quality, sachet water