The microbiological quality of drinking water sold on the streets in Kumasi, Ghana.

Obiri-Danso, K. and Okore-Hanson, A. and Jones, Keith (2003) The microbiological quality of drinking water sold on the streets in Kumasi, Ghana. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 37 (4). pp. 334-339. ISSN 0266-8254

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Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the microbiological quality of Ghanaian bottled and plastic-bagged drinking water sold on the streets of Metropolitan Kumasi, Ghana. Methods and Results: Eight bottled, 88 factory-filled plastic sachet and 40 hand-filled hand-tied polythene-bagged drinking waters were examined for the presence of heterotrophic bacteria total viable counts (TVCs), indicators of faecal contamination (total coliforms, faecal coliforms and enterococci) and for lead, manganese and iron. Heterotrophic bacteria were found in all three types of water with TVCs per millilitre ranging from 1 to 460 for bottled water, 2–6·33 × 105 for factory-bagged sachet water and 2·33 × 103–7·33 × 1012 for hand-filled hand-tied bagged water. None of the microbial indicators of faecal contamination were detected in bottled water, whereas 4·5% of the factory-bagged sachets contained total coliforms and 2·3% faecal coliforms, and 42·5% of the hand-filled hand-tied bags contained total coliforms, 22·5% faecal coliforms and 5% enterococci. Iron was found in all three types of drinking water but at concentrations well within the WHO recommendations. Lead and manganese were not detected. Conclusion: Ghanaian bottled water is of good microbiological quality but some factory-bagged sachet and hand-filled hand-tied polythene-bagged drinking water are of doubtful quality. Significance and Impact of the Study: Factory-bagged sachets and hand-filled hand-tied bags of drinking water sold in Ghana should be monitored for microbiological contamination, with the aim of raising standards in the industry and re-assuring the public.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Letters in Applied Microbiology
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2400/2402
Subjects:
?? factory plastic-bagged • hand-tied-hand-filledapplied microbiology and biotechnologyqh301 biology ??
ID Code:
10433
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
15 Jul 2008 07:47
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 09:15