Bacteriologic quality of cellophane - packaged (pure) water marketed in Kaduna metropolis

Abstract

The bacteriological (Coliform) quality of six (6) brands of cellophane - packaged drinking water was determined using the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique as described by APHA (1992). Sixty (60) samples were analyzed over a ten week period, with a sample of the six brands analyzed per week. Tap water and Eva bottled water served as the control samples. The Coliform index per 100 ml of samples ranged between 1.2 x 10² to 2.9 x 10⁵. The results indicated that none of the brands of cellophane - packaged water and tap water control meets the World Health Organization, European or International Standards of 1 Coliform/100 ml of drinking water. The public health implications of these findings and the task before National Agency for Food and Drug administration and Control (NAFDAC) are highlighted in the paper.

Keywords; Bacteriological quality, Most probable number, Coliform index, Food-borne diseases, Membrane filtraion