Effect of storage conditions on sachet water quality in Accra, Ghana

Abstract Packaged sachet water is a major drinking water source for most low and middle-income classes in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. It has successfully bridged the gap in the supply of safe drinking water to households, supplementing government efforts. However, storage duration and condi...

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Main Authors: Anna Monney Hammond, Boniface Yeboah Antwi, Elizabeth Von-Kiti, Theophilus Yaw Amponsah, Bosompemaa Gyamera, Eunice A. Ansong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024-11-01
Series:Discover Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-024-00123-8
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author Anna Monney Hammond
Boniface Yeboah Antwi
Elizabeth Von-Kiti
Theophilus Yaw Amponsah
Bosompemaa Gyamera
Eunice A. Ansong
author_facet Anna Monney Hammond
Boniface Yeboah Antwi
Elizabeth Von-Kiti
Theophilus Yaw Amponsah
Bosompemaa Gyamera
Eunice A. Ansong
author_sort Anna Monney Hammond
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Packaged sachet water is a major drinking water source for most low and middle-income classes in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. It has successfully bridged the gap in the supply of safe drinking water to households, supplementing government efforts. However, storage duration and conditions can affect the water quality that reaches consumers. This study examines how storage time and conditions impact the quality of vended sachet water in Accra. Samples were stored using two methods: at room temperature (+ 20 °C) and exposed to sunlight outdoors (+ 33 °C). Water samples were analyzed over 3 months. The average pH of the samples was 7.43 ± 0.23, and all the physicochemical parameters were within World Health Organization guidelines. Some water samples showed bacterial growth after packaging. At 1 month, sachet water B (SWB_Exposed) had a Total Coliform (TC) count of 93 CFU/mL and a Heterotrophic Bacteria count of 416 CFU/mL. By 3 months, all samples contained TC. SWA_Unexposed had a TC of 884 CFU/mL, while SWA_Exposed had 468 CFU/mL. SWB_Unexposed had a TC of 25 CFU/mL, compared to 256 CFU/mL for SWB_Exposed. Currently, sachet water in Ghana has a 3-month expiry date. However, the results suggest that long-term indoor storage of sachet water can lead to bacterial regrowth.
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spelling doaj-art-fd03eb4efd754752b08f249122b77b372025-08-20T02:22:20ZengSpringerDiscover Water2730-647X2024-11-014111010.1007/s43832-024-00123-8Effect of storage conditions on sachet water quality in Accra, GhanaAnna Monney Hammond0Boniface Yeboah Antwi1Elizabeth Von-Kiti2Theophilus Yaw Amponsah3Bosompemaa Gyamera4Eunice A. Ansong5Sanitation and Environmental Management Division, Institute of Industrial Research, Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchMaterials and Manufacturing Division, Institute of Industrial Research, Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchMaterials and Manufacturing Division, Institute of Industrial Research, Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchSanitation and Environmental Management Division, Institute of Industrial Research, Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchSanitation and Environmental Management Division, Institute of Industrial Research, Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchQuality Assurance Division, Special Ice Mineral Water Company LimitedAbstract Packaged sachet water is a major drinking water source for most low and middle-income classes in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. It has successfully bridged the gap in the supply of safe drinking water to households, supplementing government efforts. However, storage duration and conditions can affect the water quality that reaches consumers. This study examines how storage time and conditions impact the quality of vended sachet water in Accra. Samples were stored using two methods: at room temperature (+ 20 °C) and exposed to sunlight outdoors (+ 33 °C). Water samples were analyzed over 3 months. The average pH of the samples was 7.43 ± 0.23, and all the physicochemical parameters were within World Health Organization guidelines. Some water samples showed bacterial growth after packaging. At 1 month, sachet water B (SWB_Exposed) had a Total Coliform (TC) count of 93 CFU/mL and a Heterotrophic Bacteria count of 416 CFU/mL. By 3 months, all samples contained TC. SWA_Unexposed had a TC of 884 CFU/mL, while SWA_Exposed had 468 CFU/mL. SWB_Unexposed had a TC of 25 CFU/mL, compared to 256 CFU/mL for SWB_Exposed. Currently, sachet water in Ghana has a 3-month expiry date. However, the results suggest that long-term indoor storage of sachet water can lead to bacterial regrowth.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-024-00123-8Sachet waterWater qualityStorage conditionsBacterial regrowth
spellingShingle Anna Monney Hammond
Boniface Yeboah Antwi
Elizabeth Von-Kiti
Theophilus Yaw Amponsah
Bosompemaa Gyamera
Eunice A. Ansong
Effect of storage conditions on sachet water quality in Accra, Ghana
Discover Water
Sachet water
Water quality
Storage conditions
Bacterial regrowth
title Effect of storage conditions on sachet water quality in Accra, Ghana
title_full Effect of storage conditions on sachet water quality in Accra, Ghana
title_fullStr Effect of storage conditions on sachet water quality in Accra, Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Effect of storage conditions on sachet water quality in Accra, Ghana
title_short Effect of storage conditions on sachet water quality in Accra, Ghana
title_sort effect of storage conditions on sachet water quality in accra ghana
topic Sachet water
Water quality
Storage conditions
Bacterial regrowth
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-024-00123-8
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