Physicochemical and microbiological assessment of drinking water samples collected from Lagos.

Poor drinking water quality affects people, the economy and the environment. Contaminated water is the primary cause of diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhoea and dysentery in Nigeria. These diseases cause death in individuals. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical parameters and the presence of coliforms in various sachet and bottled water sold in Lagos, Nigeria. A total of 23 processed water samples were used for this study which included 10 sachets of water, 11 bottles of water and 2 dispenser water sold among different vendors in Lagos. The pH, hardness, electrical conductivity, hardness, turbidity, colour, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, chloride, magnesium and calcium level were analysed. The most probable number method was carried out and the 10-3 dilutions of the positive tubes were plated on Eosin Methylene Blue Agar and Mac Conkey Agar. A total of thirteen isolates were identified from the colonies, nine (9) from bottle water and four (4) from sachet water. The isolates were identified using the VITEK method. Among the microbes isolated from the water samples were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Escherichia coli. This shows the presence of faecal coliforms in some water samples. This study calls out the need for optimum hygienic practices in water production and packaging companies to eliminate contaminants in water and to ensure the water is properly treated to reduce the chemicals and particles present in sachet and bottled water sold in Lagos.