Assessment of Quality of Packaged Water in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin.
Abstract
Water is vital for life; however, it also serves as the commonest route of transmission
of a number of infectious diseases. In the context of growing health consciousness and chronic
water shortages, most urban residents have switched to bottled water as a safe alternative.
However, studies have shown that these beliefs are not always true. The aim of the study was
to assess and analyse the quality of packaged water in Ilorin West Local Government Area.
Sixteen samples of water from eight (8) water packaging factories were collected to give a
composite sample and to avoid error. Standardized laboratory analysis was carried out on the
water samples. The study reveals that out of the 16 samples of packaged water that were
analyzed for various physicochemical as well as microbial parameters, 95% were above the
Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) limit of temperature which can lead to the development of
some biological contaminant. Virtually all the packaged water exceeded chloride and total
hardness limit stated by NIS but all the other parameters were within NIS acceptable limits.
The study concludes that the packaged water samples contained excessive heavy metals above
the NIS standards which can cause various deadly health problems such as cancer, thereby
making it unsatisfactory for drinking purpose. The study therefore recommends that the safety
of packaged drinking water should be ensured and that testing of market samples should be
supported.
Description
Keywords
water, water quality, packaged water
Citation
2. Agaja, T.M. (2022). Assessment of Quality of Packaged Water in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State. Environmental Issues,9(1),11-21.