Bacteriological and Physical Quality of Locally Packaged Drinking Water in Kampala, Uganda
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of environmental and public health
Abstract
To assess the bacteriological and physical quality of locally packaged drinking water sold for public consumption.
Methods. This was cross-sectional study where a total of 60 samples of bottled water from 10 brands and 30 samples of sachet
water from 15 brands purchased randomly were analyzed for bacteriological contamination (total coliform and faecal coliform per
100 mL) usingmembrane filtrate method and reported in terms of cfu/100 mL. Results. Both bottled water and sachet water were not
contaminated with faecal coliform.Majority (70%, 21/30) of the sachetwater analyzed exceeded acceptable limits of 0 total coliforms
per 100mL set byWHOand the national drinking water standards.The physical quality (turbidity and pH) of all the packaged water
brands analyzed was within the acceptable limits.There was statistically significant difference between the median count of total
coliform in both sachet water and bottled water brands (𝑈(24) = 37.0, 𝑝 = 0.027). Conclusion. Both bottled water and sachet water
were not contaminated with faecal coliforms; majority of sachet waterwas contaminated with total coliformabove acceptable limits.
Government and other stakeholders should consider intensifying surveillance activities and enforcing strict hygienic measures in
this rapidly expanding industry to improve packaged water quality.
Description
Keywords
Bacteriological, Physical Quality, Drinking Water, Uganda
Citation
Halage, A. A., Ssemugabo, C., Ssemwanga, D. K., Musoke, D., Mugambe, R. K., Guwatudde, D., & Ssempebwa, J. C. (2015). Bacteriological and physical quality of locally packaged drinking water in Kampala, Uganda. Journal of environmental and public health, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/942928