Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana

MacArthur Roseline Love; Darkwa Sarah

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12

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Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana

MacArthur Roseline Love, Darkwa Sarah

Published in International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 1, Issue 3)

Received: 9 December 2013 Accepted: Published: 30 December 2013

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Abstract

Over the years, deteriorating quality of pipe borne water has urged most Ghanaians to patronize sachet water as a safer and cheaper source of drinking water. The study investigated production and vendor practices that compromise quality of sachet water in the Central Region of Ghana. Quasi experimental design - Single Group Interrupted Time Series (SGITS) was used. Six sachet water producing companies and 6 vendors who sell products from these companies were purposively selected. Three sachets (500ml) were sampled from each company and vendor totaling 36 sachets. Membrane Filtration (MF) and Multiple Tube Fermentation (MTF) were used to isolate Total coliform (TC), Fecal coliform (FC), E. coli (EC) and Total heterotrophic bacteria (TH). Borehole water ‘B’ had very low pH (5.3). TC was positive (141 cfu/100ml) in one water sample while all 18 water samples were positive for TH when MF was used probably as a result of the use of inefficient filters. Samples taken from vendors’ sachet packages were more contaminated than those from companies using both MF and MTF. This indicates that production and vendor practices can further contaminate sachet water as was shown by the lack of good manufacturing practices such as observing personal hygiene among company staff. A more proactive approach that identifies risks and puts in place measures at critical points in sachet water production to promote and enhance overall quality will be important. The introduction of membrane filters as a more sensitive way of detecting these parameters as well as the Presence/Absence test as an inexpensive, reliable and easy test in the analysis of sachet water hopefully will help improve and maintain quality. It is recommended that the Ghana Health Services partner with the metropolis to develop a bacteriological water quality monitoring training program to help train producers of sachet water to meet standards.

Published in	International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 1, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12
Page(s)	64-70
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sachet Water, Quality, Production and Vendor Practices, Ghana

References

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[2]	World Health Organization (2003). Water in healthy villages – a guide for communities and community health workers. Chapter 3. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
[3]	Levesque, D., Pereg, D., Watkinson, E., Maguire, J.S., Bissonnette, L., Gingras, P., Rouja Bergeron, M.G., Dewailly, (2008). Assessment of microbiological quality of drinking water from household tanks in Bermuda. Canada Journal of Microbial, 54, 495-500.
[4]	Ezeugwunne, N.R., Agbakoba, N.K., Nnamah, I.C. & Anahalu (2009). The prevalence of bacteria in packaged sachets water sold in Nnewi, South East, Nigeria. World Journal of Dairy and Food Sciences, 4 (1), 19-21.
[5]	Anonymous (2006). Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy and amending Directive 2000/60/EC, Commission Staff Working Document ‘Impact Assessment’, SEC(2006) 947, Brussels, 17.7. 2006, 77 pp
[6]	Addo, K. K., Mensah G. I., Bekoi M., Bonsu C., & Akyeh M. L. (2009). Bacteriological quality of sachet water produced and sold in Teshie-Nungua suburbs in Accra. Adfand Online 4
[7]	Gadgil, A. J. & Derby, E.A. (2003). Providing Safe Drinking Water to 1.2 Billion Unserved People. Annual Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) Conference, Paper 70492. San Diego, CA, June 22–26, 2003.
[8]	United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) (2004). Simple Methods Lead to Dramatic Results. UN Commission on Sustainable Development, 12th Session, New York,
[9]	Dada, A. C. (2009). Sachet water phenomenon in Nigeria: assessment of the potential health impacts. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 3(1), 015-021.
[10]	Stoler, J., Fink, G., Weeks, J. R., Appiah Otoo, R., Ampofo, J. A. & Hill, A. G. (2012). When urban taps run dry: Sachet water consumption and health effects in low income neighborhoods of Accra, Ghana, Health and Place. 18(2), 250-262.
[11]	Obiri-Danso, K., Okore-Hanson, A., Jones, K. (2003). The microbiological quality of drinking water sold on the streets of Kumasi, Ghana. Letters of Applied Microbiology, 2003; 37(4), 334.
[12]	Okioga, T. (2007). Water quality and business aspects of sachet vended water in Tamale, Ghana. Master’s thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
[13]	Dodoo, D. K., Quagraine, E. K., Okai-Sam, F., Kambo, D. J. & Headley (2006). Quality of "sachet" waters in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. Journal of Environmental Research, 41(3), 329-342.
[14]	Kwakye-Nuako, G., Borketey, P.B., Mensah-Attipoe, I., Asmah, H. Ayeh-Kumi, P. F. (2007). Sachet drinking water in Accra: the potential threats ff transmission of enteric pathogenic protozoan organisms. Ghana Medical Journal, 41(2), 62-66.
[15]	Smith- Asante, E. (2010). Ghana to incorporate rainwater harvesting in building designs: Retrieved March 15, 2012 from: www.ghanabusinessnews.com
[16]	World Health Organization (2006). Guidelines for drinking-water quality [electronic resource]: incorporating ﬁrst addendum, 1, Recommendations. – 3rd ed. Retrieved from www.who.int./water_sanitation_health/dwg/gdwq0506.pdf.
[17]	Hutton, G., Haller, L.(2004). Evaluation of the Costs and Benefits of Water and Sanitation Improvement at the Global Level. Geneva: World Health Organization (WHO/SDE/WSH/04.04): 9.
[18]	United Nations (2007). Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the scope and content of the relevant human rights obligations related to equitable access to safe drinking water and sanitation under international human rights instruments
[19]	World Health Organization (2007). pH in drinking-water. Background document for preparation of WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality. Geneva, World Health Organization (WHO/SDE/WSH/07.01/1).
[20]	Ghana Standards Board (2009). Water Quality Requirements for Drinking Water, GS 175, Pt. 1, 2009.
[21]	World Health Organization (Geneva) (1993). The bacteriological quality of drinking water quality, in Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, 1, 17-39.
[22]	Hunter, P. R. (1987). Bottled natural mineral and other bottled water. Microbiology Europe 2, 9.
[23]	Ministry of Health (2009). Monthly out-patients morbidity report, Central Region, Cape Coast, Ghana: Health Directorate.

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APA Style

MacArthur Roseline Love, Darkwa Sarah. (2013). Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 1(3), 64-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12

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ACS Style

MacArthur Roseline Love; Darkwa Sarah. Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2013, 1(3), 64-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12

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AMA Style

MacArthur Roseline Love, Darkwa Sarah. Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2013;1(3):64-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12,
  author = {MacArthur Roseline Love and Darkwa Sarah},
  title = {Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {1},
  number = {3},
  pages = {64-70},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20130103.12},
  abstract = {Over the years, deteriorating quality of pipe borne water has urged most Ghanaians to patronize sachet water as a safer and cheaper source of drinking water. The study investigated production and vendor practices that compromise quality of sachet water in the Central Region of Ghana. Quasi experimental design - Single Group Interrupted Time Series (SGITS) was used. Six sachet water producing companies and 6 vendors who sell products from these companies were purposively selected. Three sachets (500ml) were sampled from each company and vendor totaling 36 sachets. Membrane Filtration (MF) and Multiple Tube Fermentation (MTF) were used to isolate Total coliform (TC), Fecal coliform (FC), E. coli (EC) and Total heterotrophic bacteria (TH). Borehole water ‘B’ had very low pH (5.3). TC was positive (141 cfu/100ml) in one water sample while all 18 water samples were positive for TH when MF was used probably as a result of the use of inefficient filters. Samples taken from vendors’ sachet packages were more contaminated than those from companies using both MF and MTF. This indicates that production and vendor practices can further contaminate sachet water as was shown by the lack of good manufacturing practices such as observing personal hygiene among company staff. A more proactive approach that identifies risks and puts in place measures at critical points in sachet water production to promote and enhance overall quality will be important. The introduction of membrane filters as a more sensitive way of detecting these parameters as well as the Presence/Absence test as an inexpensive, reliable and easy test in the analysis of sachet water hopefully will help improve and maintain quality. It is recommended that the Ghana Health Services partner with the metropolis to develop a bacteriological water quality monitoring training program to help train producers of sachet water to meet standards.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana
AU - MacArthur Roseline Love
AU - Darkwa Sarah
Y1 - 2013/12/30
PY - 2013
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12
DO - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12
T2 - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JF - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JO - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
SP - 64
EP - 70
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2330-7420
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12
AB - Over the years, deteriorating quality of pipe borne water has urged most Ghanaians to patronize sachet water as a safer and cheaper source of drinking water. The study investigated production and vendor practices that compromise quality of sachet water in the Central Region of Ghana. Quasi experimental design - Single Group Interrupted Time Series (SGITS) was used. Six sachet water producing companies and 6 vendors who sell products from these companies were purposively selected. Three sachets (500ml) were sampled from each company and vendor totaling 36 sachets. Membrane Filtration (MF) and Multiple Tube Fermentation (MTF) were used to isolate Total coliform (TC), Fecal coliform (FC), E. coli (EC) and Total heterotrophic bacteria (TH). Borehole water ‘B’ had very low pH (5.3). TC was positive (141 cfu/100ml) in one water sample while all 18 water samples were positive for TH when MF was used probably as a result of the use of inefficient filters. Samples taken from vendors’ sachet packages were more contaminated than those from companies using both MF and MTF. This indicates that production and vendor practices can further contaminate sachet water as was shown by the lack of good manufacturing practices such as observing personal hygiene among company staff. A more proactive approach that identifies risks and puts in place measures at critical points in sachet water production to promote and enhance overall quality will be important. The introduction of membrane filters as a more sensitive way of detecting these parameters as well as the Presence/Absence test as an inexpensive, reliable and easy test in the analysis of sachet water hopefully will help improve and maintain quality. It is recommended that the Ghana Health Services partner with the metropolis to develop a bacteriological water quality monitoring training program to help train producers of sachet water to meet standards.
VL - 1
IS - 3
ER -

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Author Information

MacArthur Roseline Love

University of Cape Coast- Faculty of Education, Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Cape Coast- Ghana
Darkwa Sarah

University of Cape Coast- Faculty of Education, Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Cape Coast- Ghana

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APA Style

MacArthur Roseline Love, Darkwa Sarah. (2013). Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 1(3), 64-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12

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ACS Style

MacArthur Roseline Love; Darkwa Sarah. Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2013, 1(3), 64-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12

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AMA Style

MacArthur Roseline Love, Darkwa Sarah. Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2013;1(3):64-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12,
  author = {MacArthur Roseline Love and Darkwa Sarah},
  title = {Production and Vendor Practices that Compromise the Quality of “Sachet” Water in the Central Region, Ghana},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {1},
  number = {3},
  pages = {64-70},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20130103.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20130103.12},
  abstract = {Over the years, deteriorating quality of pipe borne water has urged most Ghanaians to patronize sachet water as a safer and cheaper source of drinking water. The study investigated production and vendor practices that compromise quality of sachet water in the Central Region of Ghana. Quasi experimental design - Single Group Interrupted Time Series (SGITS) was used. Six sachet water producing companies and 6 vendors who sell products from these companies were purposively selected. Three sachets (500ml) were sampled from each company and vendor totaling 36 sachets. Membrane Filtration (MF) and Multiple Tube Fermentation (MTF) were used to isolate Total coliform (TC), Fecal coliform (FC), E. coli (EC) and Total heterotrophic bacteria (TH). Borehole water ‘B’ had very low pH (5.3). TC was positive (141 cfu/100ml) in one water sample while all 18 water samples were positive for TH when MF was used probably as a result of the use of inefficient filters. Samples taken from vendors’ sachet packages were more contaminated than those from companies using both MF and MTF. This indicates that production and vendor practices can further contaminate sachet water as was shown by the lack of good manufacturing practices such as observing personal hygiene among company staff. A more proactive approach that identifies risks and puts in place measures at critical points in sachet water production to promote and enhance overall quality will be important. The introduction of membrane filters as a more sensitive way of detecting these parameters as well as the Presence/Absence test as an inexpensive, reliable and easy test in the analysis of sachet water hopefully will help improve and maintain quality. It is recommended that the Ghana Health Services partner with the metropolis to develop a bacteriological water quality monitoring training program to help train producers of sachet water to meet standards.},
 year = {2013}
}

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