EVALUATION OF MICROBIAL OF PACKAGED WATER ANALYSIS SOLD IN NIGERIA
1.1 Background to the Study
Water is an essential natural resource required by all living organisms. However among these living organisms, human beings tend to use water most for the purposes of drinking, personal, domestic, industrial and recreational uses (Igbeneghu and Lamikanra 2014). Nigeria like other developing nations is faced with problems of potable water supply for its estimated 160 million citizens (Adesiji 2013). As a result of this and other factors, packaged drinking water has been used as alternative drinking water source (Oyedeji et al. 2010). Packaged drinking water is defined as water packaged in cans, plastic sachets and pouches for the main purpose of consumption (Warburton 1993). It is mostly common in low socio economic countries has means of salvaging scarce potable, safe water and to generate income, yet, various studies have shown that some packaged drinking water may not be safe for drinking due to presence of pathogens (Ahmed et al. 2013; Obiri-Danso et al. 2003).
According to Oyedeji et al. (2010), water borne diseases are one of the major public health related problems in developing countries like Nigeria. The ever increasing demand, sale and indiscriminate consumption of packaged drinking water in Nigeria, therefore, poses significant public health risks to the citizens especially individuals with compromised immune systems (Mgbakor et al. 2011). Most producers of packaged drinking water in Nigeria obtain their raw water mostly from sources such as local, municipal piped water or well water and therefore, do not follow specified standards due to lack of the appropriate drinking water technology (Oluyege et al. 2014).
Osun State Water Corporation (OSWC), and the Rural Water Environmental Sanitation Agency (RUWESA) are inadequate for the growing population and at best epileptic in most Osogbo communities (OSWC, 2008). As a consequence of pipe borne water shortage, the Osun State residents depend on water from boreholes, hand-dug wells and water vended in sachets. From a public health perspective, there is a need to ascertain the quality of water accessible to the residents to avoid or reduce incidence of contaminated water-related health hazards. Based on this, the study was undertaken to assess the physical, chemical, and bacteriological properties of of packaged water used by the students residents of Osun State. The study is relevant in assuring whether the quality of the packaged water meet the regulatory standards because portable water is essential to life.
1.2 Problem Statement.
Despite various studies by researchers, there is no information on prevailing pathogens. This study was, therefore, carried out to compile nationally and internationally published articles in order to summarize and compare occurrence of fecal indicator bacteria and potential water borne bacterial pathogens in packaged drinking water sold in Osun state.
So also analyse the physiochemical properties of the packaged water to check if they conform with the standard to ensure their safety.
