Tenebe, I.T.; Babatunde, E.O.; Eddy-Ugorji, C.C.; Etu, E.-E.E.; Ogarekpe, N.M.; Ekeanyanwu, C.V.; Diekola, O.A.; Oladele, O.S.; Ezeudu, O.B. Bacterial Contamination Levels and Brand Perception of Sachet Water: A Case Study in Some Nigerian Urban Neighborhoods. Water2023, 15, 1762.
Tenebe, I.T.; Babatunde, E.O.; Eddy-Ugorji, C.C.; Etu, E.-E.E.; Ogarekpe, N.M.; Ekeanyanwu, C.V.; Diekola, O.A.; Oladele, O.S.; Ezeudu, O.B. Bacterial Contamination Levels and Brand Perception of Sachet Water: A Case Study in Some Nigerian Urban Neighborhoods. Water 2023, 15, 1762.
Tenebe, I.T.; Babatunde, E.O.; Eddy-Ugorji, C.C.; Etu, E.-E.E.; Ogarekpe, N.M.; Ekeanyanwu, C.V.; Diekola, O.A.; Oladele, O.S.; Ezeudu, O.B. Bacterial Contamination Levels and Brand Perception of Sachet Water: A Case Study in Some Nigerian Urban Neighborhoods. Water2023, 15, 1762.
Tenebe, I.T.; Babatunde, E.O.; Eddy-Ugorji, C.C.; Etu, E.-E.E.; Ogarekpe, N.M.; Ekeanyanwu, C.V.; Diekola, O.A.; Oladele, O.S.; Ezeudu, O.B. Bacterial Contamination Levels and Brand Perception of Sachet Water: A Case Study in Some Nigerian Urban Neighborhoods. Water 2023, 15, 1762.
Abstract
Sachet water (SW) is a major source of drinking water in most Nigerian homes, thus making it a possible conveyance medium for health risks due to contamination rather than for replenishment of the body. This study collected SW from three busy neighborhoods and investigated for the presence of indicator bacteria – Escherichia coli (E. coli), Total Coliform (TC), Total Heterophilic Bacteria (THB), and Staphylococcus – and some physio-chemical parameters – total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and salinity. Multi-variable and exploratory statistical methods were applied to the results to determine correlations between bacterial contamination levels and perceived brand reputation. Bacteriological test with raw SW samples appeared too numerous to count (TNC) and thus required serial dilutions. After seven dilutions, results obtained revealed that SW brands with good reputation had no TC and E. coli and was statistically significant with groupings of other SW brands (χ2 = 12.28; p < 0.05 and χ2 = 37.96; p < 0.05) respectively. Additionally, SW brands with poor reputation had mean values of TC (19.7X10^8 cfu/ml;14X10^8 cfu/ml1.15X10^8 cfu/ml) and E.coli (18.2X10^8 cfu/ml;38.7X10^8 cfu/ml,32.4X10^8 cfu/ml) exceeding threshold value of zero set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Only one sample from poor reputation brand tested positive for Staphylococcus and was not statistically significant (χ2 =5.2191; p = 0.074). Principal Component Analysis (PCA)/ Factor Analysis (FA) revealed that most of the SW had fecal contamination in an alarming magnitude. Therefore, this study suggests that periodic cleaning of distribution lines, location specific treatment, QC and QA measures should be taken to reduce water security risk for SW consumption in the region.
Keywords
Sachet water; water quality; bacteriological quality; public health; drinking water
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Water Science and Technology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Received:
22 March 2023
Commenter:
Taiwo Korede Adekeye
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment:
The outcome of this research is so worrisome and calls for individual carefulness as regards our consumption not restricted on water only.
I hereby give kudos to the researchers
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Commenter: Taiwo Korede Adekeye
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
I hereby give kudos to the researchers