Quality Evaluation of Bottled Water Packaged Within Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Ten different brands of bottled water were procured from different regions of Niger State, Nigeria for this study. The labeling information, temperature, pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total hardness, chloride, alkalinity, lead, copper, manganese, and iron contents of the water samples were determined using standard methods. The investigation revealed that the temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, chloride, and alkalinity of the samples ranged between 26.5+0.50–28.0+0.00 oC, 6.20+0.09–7.33+0.30, 13.5+1.50– 317.5+1.50 μScm-1, 13-125 mg/L, 2.89 - 31.36 mg/L, and 5-60 mg/L, respectively. Lead and copper were not detected in all the samples except SB10 with 0.01 mg/L of copper. Similarly, manganese was detected in six samples at concentrations between (0.02-0.08 mg/L) while iron ranged between 0.01-0.16 mg/L). The physical, chemical and heavy metals composition of the water samples complied with World Health Organization (WHO) and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) permissible limits for drinking water except for the pH of one sample (SB8) that was below the permissible limit. However, 60% of the brands had no manufacturing and expiry dates on their label as required by Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Therefore, periodic evaluation and monitoring by concerned agencies should be intensified to ensure that bottled water producers in the state strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures.