ABSTRACT

The bacteriological and physical analysis of ten sachet water samples purchased from, different manufacturers in the study areas shows that not all clear, tasteless, odourless, non-turbid and colourless water is microbiologically safe for consumption. Analysis of the water samples for Most Probably Number (MPN) of faecal coliform using the presumptive step of multiple-tube fermentation' test gave a range of 2-70 M.PN/1 0Oml.Total heterotrophic plate count (THPC) and total coliform count conducted by triplicate analysis using pour plate technique to inoculate the four fold serially diluted samples gave a total viable count in a ~ange of 0.6 - 2.1 x 10 and total coliform count of 3.0 - 75 x 10 3 cfu/ml. I The organisms isolated were identified as /Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphy/oc:oc:cus species, Prote1,1s species, Hac:illus species and Klebsiella species at 20, 50,90,20,40 and 50 percent frequency of occurrence respectively. Based on this result, it is recommended that the enforcement agencies in the country (NAFDAC and the Ministry of Health) need to get producers of "Sachet Water" to comply with the national drinking water guidelines.