Water quality assessment of selected bottled water brands in Gidan Kwano Area using Bottled Water Quality Index

Abstract

The health implication of consuming packaged water of compromised quality necessitates a need for their assessment with a tool that can be understood by all. Thus, this study aims at determining the potability of selected brands of bottled water in Gidan Kwano Area using Bottled Water Quality Index (BWQI). Samples of six brands of bottled water were collected and analysed for six chemical parameters (pH, Conductivity at 24OC, Nitrates, Nitrites, Chloride, Sulphates) and one microbiological parameter (E. coli). The results of the laboratory analysis were compared with Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) and World Health Organisation (WHO). The results were also used for the computation of BWQI. The results of the physicochemical and microbiological parameters showed good quality status of the six brands as all the parameters were within the established limits of NSDWQ and WHO. The respective results (0.9, 0.88, 0.87. 0.84, 0.86 and 0.88) of the BWQI for the six brands assessed showed that while five brands representing 83.33 % can be ranked as excellent, the remaining one which represent 16.67 % had a rating of adequate/good quality. This implies that all the brands are suitable for drinking.