Scientific Research and Essay Vol.4 (9), pp. 921-928, September 2009 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/sre ISSN 1992-2248 © 2009 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Towards a successful packaged water regulation in Nigeria C. A. Dada Microbiology Unit, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. E- mail: ayokunled@yahoo.com.Tel.: +2347036268554. Accepted 10 July, 2009 The importance of locally sourced, low-cost alternative drinking water schemes in contributing to increased sustainable access in developing nations cannot be over-emphasized. One of such initiatives in Nigeria, where public drinking water supply is endemic is packaged drinking water sold in sachets. Packaged water if improved upon has been suggested as alternative water provisions that could allow contributions from local initiatives in the drive towards achieving the water target of the Millennium Development Goals. This form of drinking water is easy to get and the price is affordable but people still worry about its purity. Successful regulation of the packaged water industry remains a challenge to the national agency established to enforce compliance with international standards. This study was conducted with a view to proffering recommendations that would enhance successful regulation of Nigeria’s packaged water industry and ultimately improve public health outcomes. Using data obtained from semi-structured interviews with principal office holders of the national regulatory agency, sachet water manufacturers and civil society groups, a rapid needs assessment of the existing regulatory system for packaged drinking water was conducted. Discussed are three major areas that demand prompt intervention- the adopted regulatory approach, collaborative stakeholder partnerships and institutional capacity. A seven-point recommendation is also presented. Opportunities exist for improvements in the current regulatory scheme that could make efficient the regulation of the packaged water industry. Key words: Millennium development goals, packaged water, quality regulation, stakeholder partnership. INTRODUCTION In terms of quality and quantity of public water supply, the inadequacy of pipe borne water in Nigeria is almost endemic. An alternative to the seemingly inadequate water supply is found in packaged water commonly sold in sachets. As studies have shown that standard industrialized world model for delivery of safe drinking water technology is not affordable in much of the developing world (Gadgil and Derby, 2003), the importance of locally sourced, low-cost alternative drinking water schemes in contributing to increased sustainable access in rural and peri-urban settings of developing nations cannot be over-emphasized (UNCSD, 2004). Water packed in sachets if improved upon has been suggested as a low cost, readily available alternative water provision that could help bridge the gap and ultimately allow contributions from local initiatives in the drive towards achieving the Water target of the MDGs marked for 2015 (Dada, 2009). Although it is easy to get and the price is affordable, people still worry about the purity of the sachet water. There have also been claims that it is sometimes poorly treated or oftentimes scooped directly from the many burst water pipes lying in the sewers that typically run along the roads and streets in the nation. The integrity of the hygienic environment and conditions where majority of the water in sachets in the markets are produced in areas has also been questioned (Ademoroti, 1996). Concerns of vertical transmission of disease pathogens by vendors have been raised. Although documented evidence is rare, there are claims (CAMON, 2007) of past outbreaks of water borne illnesses that resulted from consumption of polluted sachet waters most of which are of unknown origin (Dada, 2009). The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) is the sole regulator established and empowered to enforce compliance with the drinking water