DOI : https://dx.doi.org/10.26808/rs.st.i7v6.07
International Journal of Advanced Scientific and Technical Research Issue 7 volume 6 Nov.- Dec. 2017
Available online on http://www.rspublication.com/ijst/index.html ISSN 2249-9954
©2017 RS Publication, rspublicationhouse@gmail.com Page 53
Spatial Distribution of Bacteriologically Safe and Unsafe Sachet Water in
Sokoto Metropolis
*Bello Nura and Fada A.G
Department of Geography, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, PMB 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria
*Correspondence author: Bello, Nura
nura.bello@udusok.edu.ng
+2348068126417
Abstract
Sachet water emerged as an alternative to the seeming inadequate water in Nigeria, and if improved upon,
would offer a low cost alternative water provision from private participation that could help in the drive
towards achieving the target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) marked for 2030. However
the mass rush of several entrepreneurs into water packaging in Nigeria seems to have compromised
quality standards of that industry. Recently, the Standard Organization of Nigeria asserts that a large
percentage of the sachet water brands produced in the country is unsafe for drinking. This paper assessed
the microbial quality of sachet water produced in Sokoto Metropolis. 109 water packaging enterprises
were surveyed and 83 of them were selected for analysis using Yemen‟s formula for sample
determination. Multiple tube technique was used for the microbial analysis; Editing tool of the Arc GIS
9.3 were used to determine the spatial distribution; and The Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient were
used for Hypothesis testing. it was found that 38.6% of the water sachets are not safe for consumption.
The following bacteria: Bacillus spp, Citrobacter spp, E.Coli, Entrobacter spp, Entrococcus spp,
Klebsiella spp, Proteus, Providencia spp, Pseudomonas spp, Salmonella spp, Salmonella typhii, Shigiella
spp, Staphylococcus Spp, Staphylococcus Aureus and Streptococcus spp were also isolated. it was also
found that both safe and unsafe sachet water brands were unevenly distributed all over the study area,
where only 1.79% quality of Sachet water is controlled by the geographical location of the brand. Finally,
four remedial measures were recommended.
Key words: Sachet water, Water quality, Bacteriological sefety, Sachet water Brand.
INTRODUCTION
Pipe borne water in Nigeria is persistently inadequate in terms of quantity and quality. However
alternative has been found in packaged water commonly sold in sachets, which if improved upon, would
offer a low cost, readily available alternative water provision from private participation that could help in
the drive towards achieving the target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (Dada, 2009).
However, the recent involvement of several entrepreneurs into the business has brought a lot of concern to
most stakeholders in the sector. Recently, the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) declared that most
of the companies producing sachet water satisfy only three out of fifty parameters used in ascertaining the