International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Chemical Water Quality of Bottled Drinking Water Brands Marketed in Mwanza City, Tanzania

    ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1Dept. of Physical Sci, Faculty of Science, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, TANZANIA

Res.J.chem.sci., Volume 2, Issue (7), Pages 21-26, July,18 (2012)

Abstract

Water is a useful resource for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes and its importance to man cannot be overemphasized due to its essentiality in body metabolism and proper functioning of cells. The present study was carried out to determine the physico-chemical quality of bottled drinking water brands available in retail shops in Mwanza city (Tanzania), and compare with drinking water standards. The results show that water type for different bottled water brands when classified according to TDS ranged from very low concentrations (brands A and B) to low concentrations (brands C, D, E, and F). Based on the classification criteria of total hardness, most brands were considered to have soft water except for brand E which had moderately hard water. The dominant component to all bottled water brands was SO2 accounted 48% to 90% of the total major ions, whereas Cl accounted for 8% to 25%. Somewhat high contributions up to 20% was observed for Ca2+, while Mg2+ was below 9%, and Fe2+ and NO3- were below 6%. Brand D has exceptionally high levels for Cl, NO3, and Mg2+ ions. When compared with Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water, analysed parameters in all brands were within TBS and WHO limit values for drinking water. The study therefore concludes that the analysed bottled water brands are safe for human consumption. However, it recommends other water quality parameters such as microbiological and heavy metal be studied in future.

References

  1. Buchholz R.A., Principles of environmental management, The Greening of Business, 2nd. Prentice-Hall, London, UK, 448 (1998)
  2. Gleick P.H., The world’s water, The Biennial Report on Fresh water Resources. Washington. Island Press (2006)
  3. Lefort R., Down to the last drop, UNESCO Sources, No. 84(7) (2006)
  4. World Health Organization (WHO), Guidelines for drinking water quality, Geneva WHO (2008)
  5. United Republic of Tanzania (URT), Water Supply and Sanitation Act, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Dar es Salaam (2009)
  6. Tredoux G. and Talma A.S., Nitrate pollution of groundwater in Southern Africa. In Groundwater Pollution in Africa, Xu Y, Usher B (eds), Taylor and Francis/Balkema: Leiden, The Netherlands, 15-36 (2006)
  7. Eruola A.O., Ufoegbune G.C., Eruola A.O., Awomeso J.A. and Abhulimen S.A., Assessment of Cadmium, Lead and Iron in Hand Dug Wells of Ilaro and Aiyetoro, Ogun State, South-Western Nigeria, Res. J. Chem. Sci., 1(9), 1-5 (2011)
  8. Vaishnav M.M. and Dewangan S., Assessment of Water Quality Status in Reference to Statistical Parameters in Different Aquifers of Balco Industrial Area, Korba, C.G. India, Res. J. Chem. Sci.,1(9), 67-72 (2011)
  9. Matini L., Tathy C. and Moutou J.M., Seasonal Groundwater Quality Variation in Brazzaville, Congo, Res. J. Chem. Sci., 2(1), 7-14 (2012)
  10. Mjemah I.C., Hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical investigation of a coastal aquifer in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. PhD Thesis, Ghent University, 222 (2007)
  11. Kassenga G.R. and Mbuligwe S.E., Comparative Assessment of Physicochemical Quality of Bottled and Tap Water in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci.,3(2), 209-217 (2009)
  12. Kibona I., Mkoma S.L. and Mjemah I.C., Nitrate pollution of Neogene alluvium aquifer in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania, Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci., 5(1), 171-179 (2011)
  13. Tanzania Food and Drugs Agency (TFDA), Tanzania Food, Drug, and cosmetic Act No.1 of 2003, Tanzania, TFDA, (2003)
  14. Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), National Environmental Standards Compendium: TZS 789. Drinking (potable) water – Specification, 74, (2005)
  15. Kassenga G.R., The Health-Related microbiological quality of bottled drinking water sold in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, J. Water Health, 5(1), 179-185 (2007)
  16. Oyedej O., Olutiola P.O. and Moninuola M.A., Microbiological quality of packaged drinking water brands marketed in Ibadan metropolis and Ile-Ife cities in South Western Nigeria, Africa J. Microbiol. Res., 4(1), 96-102 (2009)
  17. Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), Performance of Water Supply and Sewerage Authorities for 2008/9 (2010)
  18. Vander Aa N.G.F.M., Classification of mineral water types and comparison with drinking water standards, Environ. Geol., 44, 554-563 (2003)
  19. Birke M., Rauch U., Harazim B., Lorenz H. and Glatte W., Major and trace elements in German bottled water, their regional distribution, and accordance with national and international standards, J. Geochem. Explor.,107(3), 245-271 (2010)