Quality Assessment of some Commercially Packaged Drinking Water in Ado Ekiti (Ekiti State, Nigeria) Metropolis

Abstract

Water is an abundant and renewable natural resources, globally used for domestic and industrial purposes. This study investigated some physicochemical, elemental and microbial properties of 10 (Ten) commercially packaged drinking water in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The 10 different packaged water (Poli water, JC table water, Ayanfe water, Olamide pure water, Ige water, Waleola water, Yemi water, Femlad water, Sparkleen water and Iroyinayo water) were sourced directly from the production site of each water producing outfit at different locations in Ado Ekiti metropolis within 2 days and in the morning. Temperature and pH of the water samples were determined on the same day of sample water collection. pH ranged from 5.80 - 8.30 while the temperature ranged between 21-24⁰C. The samples odour and taste were unobjectionable while the colour was 5.0 NTU. Dissolved oxygen was 105-155 mg/l, total solids (73-402 mg/l), dissolved solids (123-570 mg/l), suspended solids (47-362 mg/l). Total alkalinity was 28-120 mg/l and chloride content (12.2-251 mg/l). Ammoniacal nitrogen was not detected in the water samples and total acidity was nil. The elemental analysis of these samples (mg/l) showed Copper was 0.03-0.22, magnesium (34-55.3), zinc (0.74-1.89) and calcium content (58.2-67.8) respectively. Iron, lead, mercury, chromium, arsenic and aluminium was not detected in any of the samples. Microbial examination of water samples indicated that total viable count was 1 -12 cfu/ml, the presumptive coliform test was negative, implying the samples had no gas producing organisms while the coliform count was nil.

The results of this study were within WHO standards for potable water, indicating that all were suitable for human consumption and of no health implication.