Physicochemical and bacteriological quality of sachet water used by Ghanaian university students: implications for public health

This study analyses the quality of sachet water consumed by university students in Metropolitan Kumasi, Ghana. Thirty sachet water samples from ten different brands were tested for their physical and bacteriological quality using meters and titrimetric method and most probable number method, respectively. Overall, one half of the sachet water samples were highly contaminated with total and faecal coliform. While the mean total coliform/100 mL concentration of ANG, NOV, IM, PD and DKN were 9.15 × 10⁵, 2.35 × 10⁶, 9.15 × 10⁵, 4.15 × 10⁵ and 9.15 × 10⁵ respectively, we recorded faecal coliform counts of 2.3 × 10⁵, 4.15 × 10⁵, 2.3 × 10⁵, 2.3 × 10⁵ and 2.3 × 10⁵, respectively for ANG, NOV, IM, PD and DKN. Moreover, samples from DKN brand showed Escherichia coli count of 4.0 × 10⁴. The conductivity ranged from 2.24 μS/cm to 43.60 μS/cm while the mean total alkalinity of all samples ranged from 33.33 mg/L to 120 mg/L. The coliform contamination levels of the water samples violated the guidelines and standards of WHO for drinking water quality. Ghanaian regulatory agencies should intensify the monitoring and surveillance activities to ensure compliance with strict hygienic measures by sachet water producers.