PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SACHET WATER SOLD IN IMO STATE POLYTECHNIC MAIN CAMPUS

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the study For the sustenance of life, the essentiality of water cannot be over estimated (Ujah et al., 2021). Water plays a significant role in maintaining the human health and welfare. Clean drinking water is now recognized as a fundamental right of human beings. Around 780 million people do not have access to clean and safe water and around 2.5 billion people do not have proper sanitation as a result, around 6-8 million people die each year due to water related diseases and contaminant, (Rahmanaian et al., 2015)). Water in its purest form is odourless, tasteless, colourless , and significantly free from microorganisms and turbidity and can be taken with no risk harm, It is a life sustaining drink which plays a crucial role in most biological and metabolic process, However, access to a potable drinking water is a public health challenge in developing countries, Nigeria by no means an exception. This is largely due to contamination from inadequately controlled anthropogenic and industrial activities and by Lasser extent natural condition, (Ndobuisi and Ibe , 2019). Megersa (2018) defined safe drinking water as the water that does not represent any significant risk to health over a lifetime of consumption. The safe drinking water must be delivered that, it is pure, wholesome, healthful and potable. In Nigeria, after almost sixty years of water supply development, it is regrettable that only sixty percent of the population has access to safe drinking water and in rural area less than fifty percent of household have access to good potable water , (Gbadegesin and Olorunfemi, 2007). In Nigeria availability of drinking water is an issue of great concern to localities depending on non-public water supply system such as water tankers, and boreholes. The alternative use of these water sources has come to stay as a result of the inability of the state water corporation to supply water to all parts of Imo state, (Agwu et al 2013 ) . The essence of checking for potability is to reduce the potentiality of water in spreading diseases with in susceptible human population, (Okonko et al 2008). Consumption of water containing toxic chemicals lead to damage in human body. The metals and contaminant can accumulate in human body overtime, posing serious health risks to humans. Various author reported, that over one third of deaths in most developing countries are caused by consumption of contaminated water, mostly water contaminated by heavy metals, ( Bolawa and Adelusi, 2017 ). As the population of people in Omuma area in Imo state continue to rise due to prolific market which reside in Omuma, human activities including soil fertility remediation, indiscriminate refuse and waste disposal, use of septic tanks, soak away pit and pit latrines are on the increase . These activities are capable of producing leachates into the underground water formation that serve as a source of water to the inhabitants in the city of Owerri, (Okhuebor et al., 2020). These contaminant or heavy metals do bioaccumulate in the living organisms and the human body through various process causing adverse effects. In human body these chemical contaminant are transported and compartmentalized into proteins, nucleic acids destroying these macromolecules and disrupting their cellular functions (Monisha et al., 2014). In the last decade packaging of ground water in sachet popularly referred to as “ pure water “ has become a thriving business In Nigeria, improper purification and packaging by the production companies may lead to contamination of these processed sachet water, (Ogutona et al., 2012). Opined that despite these water packaging companies obtaining certification and number from the national Agency for food, and drugs Administration control (NAFDAC) , the sachet water still posses some contaminant. Considering the extensive consumption of sachet water , a greater number of the populace is exposed to heavy metal toxics and acidic water. These study therefore seeks to assess pH, calcium, magnesium, zinc, lead, manganese, copper, and iron in sachet water and borehole water consumed by large population of people in Omuma, Imo state, and compare the values obtained with the permissible limits established by world health organization and Nigeria standard for drinking water quality . This will aid to demonstrate the possible hazard to which Nigerians consuming sachet water may be exposed to and also provide evidence based information for regulatory policies and sensitization of the populace about the health implication of prolonged consumption (Ndobuisi et al., 2019). 1.2 Statement of Problem Water quality is one of the main challenges that societies faces, threatening human health , limiting food production , reducing ecosystem functions, and hindering economic growth. The availability of the world scarce water resources is increasingly limited due to the worsening pollution of freshwater resources caused by the disposal of large quantities of insufficiently treated , or untreated wastewater into rivers, lakes, acquifer, and coastal waters, further more, newly emerging pollutants like personal care products and pharmaceuticals , pesticides and industrial and household chemical and changing climate patterns represents a new water quality challenge, with still unknown long – term impacts on human health and ecosystem,( UNESCO 2021). Naturally, ground water contains mineral ions, these ions slowly dissolved in soil particles, sediments, and rocks as the water travels along mineral surfaces in the pores or fractures of the unsaturated zone and acquifer. They are referred to as dissolved solids. A list of the dissolved solids in any water is long, but it can be divided into three groups: major constituents, minor constituents, and trace elements . The total mass of dissolved constituents is referred to as the total solids (TDS) concentration. In water all of the dissolved solids are either positively charge ions ( cations) or negatively charge ions ( anions). At high TDS concentration , water becomes saline . Water with a TDS of above 500 mg/L is not recommended for use as drinking water, (EPA secondary drinking water guidelines). (Hatter, 2003). 1.3 Aims and objectives The aim of this study is to establish a report on physicochemical analysis of sachet water quality largely consumed by Imo State Polytechnic students and staff. The objectives of this study are to: 1. Assess the quality of sachet water sold in Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma. 2. To determine the physical parameters of sachet water sold in Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma. 3. To determine the chemical parameters of sachet water sold in Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma. 4. To compare the results obtained with the maximum permissible standards. 1.4 Scope of study The physicochemical parameters and trace metal ions analyzed on were restricted to pH, Total dissolved solute. The study was aimed to analzsed three sachet water samples in sold in Imo State Polytechnic, main campus. The results obtained is hoped would provide knowledge on the possible dangers the dwellers of such place can be susceptible to, considering that the level of contamination in a surrounding increases with time . The results obtained where compared to Nigeria standard for drinking water quality maximum permitted limit for a drinking water.