Assessment of the Physicochemical and Bacteriological Properties in Polyethene Packaged Sachet Water Generally Known as andldquo;Pure Waterandrdquo; Produced and Sold in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, South West, Nigeria

In this research, polyethene packaged sachet water from various producers, sources and distributors were analyzed for its physicochemical and microbiological characteristics. Samples were collected randomly from six (6) different locations/towns in Sagamu Local Government. The samples were analyzed for its physicochemical and bacteriological parameters. The results of the analyses were compared with the permissible limit set by WHO, EPA, Canada, and NIS. It was found that most of the parameters, turbidity 0.08-0.16 with permissible limits of 0.1-5.0, alkalinity 9-17 mg/l with permissible of 5.00 mg/l, Total hardness 3-6 mg/l with permissible limits of <60-100 mg/l, Phosphate 0.12-0.51 mg/l with permissible limits of <5 mg/l, Iron 0.02-0.21 mg/l with permissible limits of <0.03 mg/l, Calcium 2.10-4.80 mg/l with permissible limits of <75-200 mg/l, Nitrate 0.00-2.50 mg/l with permissible limits of <45-50 mg/l, Chlorine 12.8-28.30 mg/l with permissible limits of <250 mg/l were in the expected range of the permissible limits set by WHO, EPA, Canada, and NIS. However, the pH 4.73-6.10 of the sachet water samples tends to be acidic below the expected range 6.5-10.5. The Total Heterotrophic Bacteria count and Enteric Bacteria count tends to be a little lower below the permissible limits, Total Enteric Bacteria 300-480 CFU/100 ml with permissible limits of <500 CFU/100 ml and Enteric Bacteria 280-380 CFU/100 ml. It was recommended that water producing industries should site their raw water site in a safe location free from contamination, the government should involve the participation of equipped private and government hospitals with good laboratory to monitor and report accordingly the situation of all water packaging industries in their vicinity, the government should also involve the participation of genuine and reputable individuals to produce and provide paid pipe borne waters to people in their community and regulatory bodies such as SON and NAFDAC should take responsibility by continually re-assessing the production and packaging quality of drinking water in every community.