Physiochemical and bacteriological analyses of selected sachet water in central Monrovia, Liberia

In developing nations of the world 80% of all diseases and over 30% of death are related to drinking water. Drinking water may become contaminated during collection, handling, storage and use. Since the introduction of factory based water, their consumptions have increased severely in Liberia. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the physiochemical and bacteriological parameters of sachet water brands sold in Central Monrovia in order to ascertain whether they conform to recommended standards of portable drinking-water by the World Health Organization (WHO). This study made used of random sampling. Six samples of seven brands of sachet water were purchased randomly from provision shops. The samples were transported to the National Standards Laboratory for physiochemical and bacteriological analyses. Physiochemical parameters such as calcium, fluoride, iron, lead, turbidity and pH were checked, while Total Viable Count, coliform, and Escherichia were checked as bacteriological parameters. The calcium level of the samples ranged from 4.60 – 17.8 Mg/L. All the samples had 0.00 Mg/L of fluoride. The iron level of the samples ranged from 0.11 – 0.39 Mg/L. The lead level of the samples ranged from 0.21 – 0.36 Mg/L. The pH range of the samples was from 7.00 – 7.01. The turbidity of the samples ranged from 0.00 – 3.74 NTU. Six of the samples showed to have 0.00 NTU for turbidity. Only sample 6 had value for turbidity. The level of turbidity measured 3.47 NTU. Sample 1, 2, 5 and 7 had no trace of viable count, coliform and Escherichia while sample 3, 4 and 6 show traces of viable count, coliform and Escherichia. Samples with Total Viable Count far above 0 Cfu/mL are considered unfit for portability. There were coliform and Escherichia detected in some samples, thereby making these samples not palatable. All of the samples had concentration of calcium. All of the samples had pH and fluoride that are in range with the reference standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Health (MOH). All of the samples had lead and iron that were out of range of the reference standards. All of the samples showed a turbidity of 0.00 NTU except sample 3 which had turbidity of 3.74 NTU.