Evaluation of Physicochemical Parameters and Microbial Safety of Sachet Water Samples: A Study of 30 Brands in Gombe Metroplis, Nigeria

This study evaluated the physicochemical and microbiological quality of thirty (30) sachet water samples obtained from different brands sold within the study area, with reference to the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ). Physicochemical parameters assessed included pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness as CaCO?, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, chloride, and sulphate, while microbiological analysis focused on total viable count, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli. Results showed that the mean pH (7.3) was within the acceptable range (6.5–8.5), turbidity (0.6 NTU) was below the permissible 5 NTU, and TDS (120 mg/L) was significantly lower than the 500 mg/L limit. Hardness (80 mg/L), nitrate (3.5 mg/L), chloride (15 mg/L), and sulphate (20 mg/L) were all below their respective regulatory limits, while DO averaged 7.2 mg/L. Microbiological analysis revealed a low total viable count (45 cfu/mL) with no detectable total coliforms or E. coli in any of the samples. Overall, the sachet water samples complied with NSDWQ standards, demonstrating good physicochemical and microbiological quality. These findings underscore the safety of the evaluated sachet water brands for public consumption, although continuous monitoring is recommended to ensure sustained quality across production batches.