ASSESSMENT OF SOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS LEVELS IN SACHET DRINKING WATER AND ITS EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH IN KATSINA URBAN AREA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This  study  aims  to  establish  the  levels  of  some
physicochemical  properties  in  Sachet  (Table)  drinking
water  samples  collected  from  20  different  sachet  water
samples  brands  and  the  effects  of  these  on  human
healths in Katsina Urban Area, Katsina  State, Nigeria. A
total of 20 (20 each) sachet water samples were collected
during dry and wet seasons of the year 2013. The gross
appearance of Physicochemical parameters; pH, Electric
Conductivity  (EC),  Turbidity,  Hardness,  Calcium  (Ca),
Sodium  (Na),  Potassium  (K),  Barium  (Ba)  and  Fluoride
(F)  were  analyzed  using  standard  analytical  techniques.
The  analysis  yielded  the  following  mean  values  with
range:  pH  (6.4  –  6.8),  Conductivity  (145.2  –  161.1
ohm/cm),  Turbidity  (5  –  5  ntu),  Hardness  (132  –  171.7
mg/l), Ca (5.4 – 16.9 mg/l), Na (0.01 – 0.03 mg/l), K (0.02
–  0.08 mg/l), Ba (7.3  –  10.5 mg/l) and F (0.5  –  1.7 mg/l).
These  results support the conclusions  that, the pH, EC,
Turbidity,  Hardness,  Calcium,  Sodium  and  Potassium
average values of the sachet water samples analysed in
dry and wet season of this study are within the acceptable
limits set  by WHO for  safe  drinking  water.  However  the
mean values of Ba analysed during dry and wet season of
this study are above the maximum permissible levels set
by  the  WHO  for  safe  drinking  water.  Only  dry  season
water  samples  average  values  of  F  is  above  the
acceptable  limits  set  by  the  WHO  drinking  water.  The
sachet  water  from  Katsina  Urban  Area  should  be  used
with care as Barium and Fluoride parameters which have
harmful  human health effects were detected in the water.
Thus,  sachet  drinking  water  in  Katsina  Urban  Area
unfortunately,  is  not  quite  safe,  because  some  of  the
parameters  analysed  were  above  the  maximum
permissible limit set by the WHO  in drinking water. It is
noted that, the treatment process in Sachet water in the
study area is  done by "experience" and not by scientific
method.  This  system  is  very  dangerous  and  should  be
discarded with immediately. To prevent this, Government
should  provide  a  scientifically  equipped  laboratory  for
testing  sachet  water  produced  any  company  before
reaching the consumer