Full Project – Quality assessment of some selected sachet water sold in Bayelsa state

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CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of study

Water is one of the indispensable resources for the continued existence of all living things including man and adequate supply of fresh and clean drinking water is a basic need for all human beings (Edema et al., 2011). It is an essential source for the sustenance of life. Humans may survive for several weeks without food, but barely few days without water because constant supply of water is needed to replenish the fluids lost through normal physiological activities, such as respiration, perspiration, urination (Murray et al., 2003). Over 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water but most of it is unfit for human consumption (Schumacher, 2005). Naturally, all water has impurities, these impurities may arise as the water flow through various routes in lakes and as it filters through layers of rock and soil in the ground where it dissolves and absorbs substances that it comes in contact with. These substances may either be harmful or harmless (Ogamba, 2004). An adequate supply of fresh and clean drinking water is a basic need for all humans as well as other life forms on earth.

Potable water is good quality water that has neither smell nor odour and can be taken with no risk of harm and water which is fit for consumption by humans and animals (Tchobanoglous et al., 2003; WHO, 2008). The major problem of developing countries is the provision of safe drinking water to its populace. The usual source of drinking water is the streams, rivers, wells and boreholes which are mostly untreated and associated with various health risks (Agbarie and Obi, 2009).

Drinking water that is safe and aesthetically acceptable is a matter of high priority to National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other regulatory agencies in Nigeria and is expected to meet the Nigerian Industrial Standard. Furthermore, drinking water that is fit for human consumption is expected to meet the World Health Organization standards and be free from physical and chemical substances and microorganisms in an amount that can be hazardous to health (Denloye, 2004). It is a known fact that no single method of purification can eliminate 100% contaminants from drinking water. However, water can be and should be made safe for consumption within acceptable limits (Denloye, 2004).

Water consumers are frequently unaware of the potential health risks associated with exposure to water borne contaminants which have often led to diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever etc. (Omalu et al., 2011). The safety of drinking water in poor and deprived communities has in the last decade been in jeopardy as a result of the introduction of refuse and sewage into sources of water supply. The intake of unclean water has detrimental effects on health as unsafe drinking water is a determinant of a plethora of microbial and non-microbial diseases with serious complications such as diarrhoea, typhoid fever, heavy metal poisoning etc.

Constant and periodic assessment of packaged drinking water is needed to satisfactorily enlighten the consumers about quality (Alhassan & Ujoh, 2012; Cheabu & Ephraim, 2014). National and international organizations standards have been explicitly developed for safe drinking water quality. Virtually all the available standards have upper limits for physical, chemical and microbiological properties which when exceeded are dangerous and have the potential of been harmful to the end users.

Sachet water is any commercially treated water, manufactured, packaged and distributed for sale in sealed food grade containers and is intended for human consumption. In Nigeria, this water is popularly referred to as “pure water” by the public. The production of sachet water requires two important raw materials, water source (which is usually borehole or tap water), and the packaging materials. The production of sachet water in Nigeria began in the late 90s and the advancement in scientific technology has made sachet water production one of the fastest growing industries in the country today. The introduction of sachet water was aimed at providing safe, hygienic and affordable instant drinking water to the public and to curb the magnitude of water related infections in the country (Ezeugwunne et al., 2009).

Consumption of sachet water in Nigeria is on the increase irrespective of whether they have NAFDAC Certification or not. However, despite the strong effort by NAFDAC in the regulation and quality assessment of sachet water, there are a growing number of reported public illnesses after drinking sachet water. There are a number of reported cases of typhoid, diarrhoea and other water borne diseases arising from consumption of sachet water (Ogamba, 2004). Sachet water serves as a major source of potable/drinking water to communities around Yenagoa area of Bayelsa state.

1.2 Aim

This study aimed at assessing the quality of some sachet water sold in Bayelsa State in line with Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and standard for drinking water.

1.3 Objectives of the study

Collection of water samples from different sachet water factory.

Insitu assessment; pH, temperature, turbidity, conductivity, appearance and colour of the sachet water samples were carried out.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) tests were also carried out on the water samples.

Heavy metals assessment of the sachet water samples was carried out.

Microbial assessment was also conducted.

1.4 Statement of problem

Yenagoa is a city of a somewhat large population thus, the sites for the production of sachet water are sometimes found to be close to the populace living areas. This may lead to runoff of human waste into the sources of this water which may also lead to its contamination. Also, metals can also contaminate this water through the soil as Bayelsa has been found to be a region rich in heavy metals or through the deposition of these metals from the pipes in which they are transferred in. inadequate care of the treatment tank or inadequate treatment of this water may also allow the presence of contaminants in it.

1.5 Justification of study

Sachet water produced in these areas is taken with no information about their quality whatsoever. Since the sites for production are sometimes close to residential areas, there may be cases of microbial as well as metal contamination which could lead to a plethora of diseases to the consumers. Hence, this study is justified by the fact that it has established and documented scientific information on the quality of some selected sachet water commonly used in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

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