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

This study analyzed the physicochemical and microbiological qualities of five sachet water brands that are mostly consumed in Awka. The researchers used respective meters for determination of physical parameters, an atomic absorption spectrophotometer machine for heavy metals determination and streak-plate method for the determination of microbiological parameters. The five sachet water brands that were used for the study were elicited from the respondents in Awka using a questionnaire. Averaged results of the physicochemical parameters of the selected sachet water brands showed that pH yielded 6.86, electrical conductivity yielded 0.2304μS/m, turbidity yielded 0.0082NTU, total dissolved solids yielded 55.62mg/l, and total suspended solids yielded 42.98mg/l. In addition, averaged results of the heavy metal parameters for the selected sachet water brands showed that lead yielded 0.0178mg/l, cadmium yielded 0.0088mg/l, copper yielded 0.0146mg/l, iron yielded 2.28mg/l, zinc yielded 1.044mg/l, chromium yielded 0.0298mg/l and cobolt yielded 1.0366mg/l. Results of the microbiological parameters showed that for total count, Aqua-Rapha yielded 11 x 105MPN/100ml, Ben-Lovers yielded 46 x 103MPN/100ml, Rock-Tama yielded 48 x 103MPN/100ml, Ice-Pack yielded 99 x 102MPN/100ml and Marvel yielded 84 x 103MPN/100ml. The study recommended that sachet water vending machines should be properly disinfected to guard against indicator organisms entraining into them which can serve as sources of sachet water contamination. Keywords: analyses, microbiological, physicochemical, quality, sachet water, Awka