Microbial Quality of Packaged Sachet Water Marketed in Maiduguri Metropolis, North Eastern Nigeria

Continuous increase in the sale and indiscriminate consumption of packaged drinking waters in Nigeria is of public health significance. This study investigated the bacteriological quality of sachet water brands marketed in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State. With emphasis on the incidence of pathogenic bacteria in the samples tested. Standard microbiological procedures were used to investigate the incidence of pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and indicator Fecal coliforms. The results showed that 55% of the brands had Fecal coliforms, 25% had Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 15% had Salmonella sp. while 5% of the sample brand had E. coli. Ninety-five percent of the packaged water samples examined were either untreated or are produced under unhygienic conditions. The findings therefore suggest that 95% of these sachet water sold in Maiduguri are not fit for human consumption and are hazardous to health. Hence, there is need for strict attention and routine monitoring by regulatory agencies with the view of raising standards of quality of sachet water produced and sold in Maiduguri.