Hygienic Quality of Water in Plastic Sachets Sold in Three Markets in the City of Yaounde

With the expansion of the city of Yaoundé and the population growth, the supply of drinking water is very insufficient. The populations are increasingly starting to consume water in sachets. In the absence of strict regulation and rigorous control, the consumption of this water exposes the population to several inconveniences. This work consisted of conducting a study on the assessment of the health risks linked to the consumption of water in plastic sachets sold at three markets in the city of Yaoundé. These are the Ekounou, BiyemAssi Accacia and Mokolo markets. To achieve this, samples were taken and subjected to physicochemical and bacteriological analyses. The results show that the ions NO3−, Cl−, NH4+, Ca2+, Mg2+ are present in our samples and their concentrations comply with the standards. The bacteriological analysis reveals the absence of coliforms and fecal streptococci. The contents of the elements listed on the packaging of the samples were not found experimentally. The pH and conductivity measurements indicate that these waters meet the standards. However, the precarious hygiene conditions around the points of sale are the cause of the questionable quality of these waters.