PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND HEAVY METALS PROFILE OF SACHET WATER BRANDS FROM SELECTED VENTURES IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL OF THEFEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Sachet water (SW) is an alternative source of drinking water among many households in Nigeria, and water contamination by heavy metals is a public health concern. This study assessed the physicochemical, lead, iron, and zinc contents of SW samples purchased within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abuja. Ten bags of SW were purchased from 10 SW ventures within AMAC, labelled A-J, and transported to the laboratory. Three SW from each bag were randomly selected for physicochemical and heavy metal content analysis using a standard protocol. The total dissolved solids, total hardness, and electrical conductivity ranged from 10.75-115.7 mg/L, 0.08-0.64 mg/L, and 7.5-236.1 μS/cm respectively, and were lower than the WHO standard, while the values of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and dissolved oxygen (DO) ranged from 7.4-10.5 mg/L, 32.5-37.5 mg/L, and 8.4-11 mg/L respectively, and exceeded the WHO threshold. The pH values varied across the samples and were below the WHO threshold. The concentrations of Zn (0.0685-0.2677 mg/L), Fe (0.3774-5.942 mg/L), and Pb (0.0572-0.2331 mg/L) varied across all the SW, with Zn content falling below the WHO threshold, while the Fe and Pb contents exceeded the threshold for drinking water. The study suggests SW contamination by heavy metals, especially Pb, and other physicochemical markers (BOD, COD, and DO), thus recommending stricter enforcement of regulatory standards for Pb content, BOD, DO, and COD in SW, improved water treatment technologies, and better maintenance of water distribution infrastructure towards actualizing the SDG No. 6 (clean water and sanitation)