ASSESSMENT OF THE BIOPHYSICO-CHEMICAL QUALITY OF SACHET WATER IN GIWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE

Authors

  • Y.O. YUSUF Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
  • P.T. IJIMDIYA Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
  • H.D. MUHAMMAD Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
  • J. UMORU Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
  • E. BABATUNDE Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
  • S. YAKUBU Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Keywords:

Biophysico-chemical, Giwa, Sachet water, Water quality

Abstract

The rise of sachet water production and its widespread consumption as an alternative to the challenge of potable
drinking water in Nigeria, is a phenomenon experienced nationwide. Studies however have shown that some sachet
water brands are agents of disease transmission. The aim of this study is to assess some of the biophysico-chemical
qualities of the sachet water brands sold in Giwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State and compare with
the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) guideline
values for potable water. Six of the most popular sachet water brands were purposively selected for laboratory analysis
in duplicates from each sampling point (production and retail points) within the LGA. The results obtained showed
that all the water samples were within permissible WHO and NSDWQ levels for the physical parameters except one
which was out of limit for Turbidity. However, for the chemical parameters, all the samples were within limits for
Electrical Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen and Chloride while some were out of the limits for pH, Total Hardness
and Total Dissolved Solids. There is therefore no evidence of serious chemical contamination among the parameters
studied. Biological analysis revealed high coliform levels in five samples; factory water samples had the lowest, with
only two brands within limits while retail points had higher coliform values, with only one brand within WHO limit
and only three brands were within NSDWQ limit at the points of production and retail. This could be the result of
inadequate treatment and storage at the factories and retail points respectively which can pose a health threat to
consumers. Thus, there is need for regulatory bodies to improve the safety of drinking water in communities through
adequate surveillance, monitoring and enforcement of regulations to avert the outbreak of waterborne diseases in the
study area.

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Published

2021-12-27

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 5 (2021)

Section

Articles