Professional Assessment of Drinking Water Safety in Bottled and Sachet Water Industries in South South Nigeria

This study conducts a professional assessment of drinking water safety in the bottled water and sachet water manufacturing industries in South South Nigeria, examining raw water quality, treatment process adequacy, product quality compliance, and regulatory oversight effectiveness across a sample of registered producers. The sachet and bottled water industry in Nigeria has grown enormously in response to unreliable piped water supply, but concerns about the quality and safety of products from smaller producers persist, particularly regarding microbiological contamination and chemical quality consistency. A systematic sampling programme collected finished product samples from twenty registered sachet water producers and ten bottled water producers in Rivers, Cross River, and Delta States. Samples were analysed for physicochemical parameters, microbiological quality including total coliform and E. coli, and selected chemical parameters including nitrate, fluoride, and arsenic. Production facility inspections assessed treatment process configuration, equipment sanitation protocols, quality control documentation, and staff hygiene practices. Regulatory records of NAFDAC inspections and product sampling were reviewed. Results show that 35 percent of sachet water products and 15 percent of bottled water products fail at least one microbiological quality parameter. Treatment process deficiencies including inconsistent UV sterilisation maintenance and inadequate pre-filtration are identified as the primary safety weaknesses. NAFDAC inspection frequency is insufficient to provide continuous quality assurance. Recommendations include mandatory quarterly third-party microbiological testing and strengthened NAFDAC inspection protocols with unannounced visits. Keywords: drinking water safety, sachet water, bottled water, NAFDAC, water quality.