Abstract:

A total of one hundred (100) brands of sachets and one hundred (100) brands of bottle water samples were collected from different locations in Abuja Metropolis and were analyzed physico-chemically and microbiologically.

The total count of most of the sachet water samples ranges between 0.32 x 102 and 1.95 x 102 CFU/ml, exceeding the limit of 1.0 x 102 CFU/ml. The MPN of coliform counts ranged from 1 to 16 cfu /100 ml of sample. Total number of isolates 502, 201 (40.04%) Escherichia coli, 52 (10.36%) Streptococcus faecalis, 50(9.36%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 199 (39.64%) Klebsiella Species. The dominant bacteria isolates were Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella Species.

The entire bottle water samples analyzed showed no bacterial growth. Bacteriological analysis showed that 10/100 (10%) of the samples of sachet water tested showed positive coliform counts. These contaminants could be as a result of improper sterilization of the water before packaging or contamination due to poor handling during production, transportation or sales of such products. There were no traces of Heavy metals and all other chemical parameters were within permissible limits. 

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