Physico-chemical analysis of the quality of different brands of sachet water in the Sunyani Municipality

Good quality water is necessary for the sustenance of growth and development. Several scientific studies has proven that there is a direct relationship between the quality of drinking water and human health, and argue that the quality of drinking water is a powerful determinant of health. Therefore, good quality drinking water gives a firm assurance and foundation for the prevention and control of water-borne diseases. Water is an indispensable element to the wellbeing of man. Water pollution is, therefore, a major global public health problem, and accounts for more than 14, 000 deaths daily. This study sought to analyze the physio-chemical quality of different brands of sachet water in the Sunyani municipality. The study adopted a cross-sectional design with questionnaires used to elicit data on selected brands of sachet water. A total of four brands of sachet water were randomly selected by first conducting a market survey on all sachet water companies and most preferred sachet water brands that people preferred to consume within the municipality Sunyani. Data collected was cleaned and samples collected were stored in an ice chest to prevent contamination. Physical and chemical laboratory analyses were performed on the selected samples. Characteristics of the selected factories and the differences among samples for the various parameters were determined using STATA version 14. Three (75%) of the factories selected were located in the premises of a rented apartment and all (100%) the factories were certified by Ghana Standard Authority, (GSA) Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana. Half (50%) of the factories managed their solid and liquid waste by disposal in a hole. Similarly, fifty percent (50%) of the factories disposed of solid waste in an itinerant waste van. All factories disinfected their production rooms. However, only one (25%) had a schedule for disinfection. All factories were found to have not replaced the xii Ultra Violet (UV) sterilization since the start of production of close to seven years for the youngest factory, and none of the factories had disinfected the trucks used in distributing water to retailers. All factories were operating using just four (4) out of the eleven (11) standard operating procedures and practices set by Ghana Standard Authority and Food Drugs Authority. However, for all factories, while variations existed, all the physico-chemical properties of the sachet water produced were within the normal limits prescribed by World Health Organisation. (WHO) Microbial content analysis of sachet water from each factory indicated that 3 out of the 4 factories had no faecal coliforms while one factory was found to contain high level of faecal coliforms. In conclusion, all factories were operating below average (4 out of 11) of the standard operating procedures and practices set by Ghana Standard Authority and Food Drugs Authority, even though the physico-chemical properties of sachet water from all the factories were within the normal limits prescribed by World Health Organisation.

Source: KNUST