ABSTRACT

Safe and potable water supplies in urban centres in Nigeria are still inadequate in spite of over five decades of independence and several efforts from various governments. This study was aimed to assess and compare the microbiological qualities of bottle and sachet packaged water sold in Umuahia Metropolis. A total of five (5) known sachets water and five known bottle water samples were purchased from different location in Umuahia Metropolis and analyzed using microbiological standard method. The bacteria isolate were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella species, Proteus mirabilis and Enterobacter aerogenes while the fungal isolate were Aspergillus Niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Aspergillus flavus. The mean Microbial load of sachet water sample is higher compare to the bottle water sample. They were slightly high and exceeding the recommended standard limit for water 1.0 x 102 CFU/ml. The result of the presumptive coliform indicates that bottle water has <2 coliform which means there is no coliform contamination found in bottle water compare to sachet water it was observed that the sachet water contain more bacterial isolates than the bottle water sample. The dominant bacterial species was Escherichia coli with percentage of 55.7% while the dominant fungal species was Aspergillus niger having percentage occurrence of 32.5%. The microbial 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Declaration ii

Certification iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgements v

Table of Contents vi

List of Tables viii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 

1.1 Aims and Objectives 4

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 

2.1 Main Sources of Domestic Water 6

2.2 Sources of Water Pollution 7

2.3 Water Related Health Risk 8

2.4 Water-Washed Diseases 8

2.5 Water Borne Diseases 8

2.6 Problems Due to Chemically Contaminated Water 9

2.7 Problems Due to Microbiologically Contaminated Water 9

2.8 Assessment of Water Quality 10

2.9 Biological Analysis 11

2.10 Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water 11

2.10.1 Drinking Water Quality Standard Used in Nigeria 11

2.10.2 Packaged Waters in the Market  12

2.10.3 The Role of Packaged / “Pure Water” Producers towards National Development 14

CHAPTER THREE:  MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Study Area 16

3.2 Sampling of Water 16

3.3    Media Preparation 16

3.4 Bacteriological Analysis 16

3.5      Identification and Characterization of Isolates 17

3.6 Gram Staining 17

3.7 Motility Test by Hanging Dropmethod 17

3.8       Biochemical Tests 18

3.8.1    Catalase Test 18

3.8.2    Coagulase Test (Slide test) 18

3.8.3    Oxidase Test 18

3.8.4    Citrate Utilization Test 19

3.8.5    Indole Test 19

3.8.6    Urease Test 19

3.8.7    Voges-Proskauer Test 20

3.8.8    Methyl Red Test 20

3.9        Lactophenol Cotton Blue Staining 21

3.9.1    Sugar utilization test 21

3.9.2     Coliform Count 21

3.9.3     Presumptive test 22

3.9.4   Confirmed test 22

3.9.5    Complete test 22

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT 23

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Discussion 31

5.2 Conclusion 33

5.3 Recommendation 33

References 35