BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON SATCHET WATER SOLD IN ABA, ABIA STATE NIGERIA

Chima O. C.*, Opara A. U., Dike-Ndudim J. N., Nwosu D. C., Ahiara C. O., Ibekwe C. N., Nwanjo U. B. C. and Nwogwugwu N. G.

ABSTRACT

Bacteriological studies on sachet water samples sold in Aba metropolis, Abia State, was undertaken to determine their portability for human consumption. Sachet water samples from twenty five (25) of the fifty (50) registered sachet water factories were collected at random from vendors at market places, Schools, Campuses, Motor parks, Recreation parks and Streets in Aba metropolis. The samples (five from each brand) were used and analyzed within 6 hours of collection. Four weeks later, a second batch of such samples from the same factories (also five from each brand) were collected and treated in like manner using pour plate method with molten MacConkay agar. After solidification, the plates were incubated at 37⁰C and 22⁰C for 24 – 72 hours, after which colony counts were conducted on the culture plates that had growths. The mean plate count was taken and the organisms from each water sample were identified based on morphological and biochemical characteristics. The result shows that three sachet water brands (12%), had growths of pathogenic organisms after 24hrs of incubation at 22⁰C and 37⁰C in the first batch, while, five sachet water brands (20%) had growth in the second batch. The organisms isolated were Klebsiella pneumonia, proteus mirabilis, and pseudomonas eruginosa. Hence, some of the sachet water packs sold in Aba metropolis were found to be unfit for human consumption. The results from this study shows that further purification is necessary before consumption and that the attention of NAFDAC and other authorized bodies be drawn to those factories whose water samples are contaminated for necessary action.

Keywords: bacteriological studies, satchet water, Aba.