Microbiological quality of sachet packaged water vended in three local governments of Oyo State, Nigeria

Recently in Nigeria, cholera which is a water borne disease has been reported in the major cities of the Southwestern part of which Ibadan is inclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the microbiological quality of sachet packaged water vended in Oluyole, Ibadan South West and Ibadan South East Local Government Areas in Oyo State, Nigeria. This was to ascertain their compliance to World Health Organisation(WHO) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC) standards. Sampling of these water samples was done three times between the months of April and May 2011. Viable bacterial and coliform counts were determined for each sample; obtained isolates were characterized using cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics of each. Isolates obtained include Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Enterobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli . 39.9% of the examined samples contained Pseudomonas aeruginosa , 53.3% had Enterobacter aerogenes while 13.3% were found to have Escherichia coli. Cholera causing pathogen was not isolated from any of the water samples but pathogenic microorganisms and coliform were found in most of the samples.