Effects of Exposure of Sachet Water to Sunlight on Its Physical and Biological Properties

Student: Dakoru Natrebo Luke (Project, 2025)
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering
Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Abstract

Sachet water is a cheaper alternative brand of drinking water in most developing countries. This study investigated on possible variations in the physical and biological properties of sachet water exposure to sunlight, as customarily practiced by retail traders. Bags of popular and widely consumed brand of sachet water were obtained from the factory immediately after production, and then divided equally into two categories (treatment and control samples). The treatment samples were repeatedly exposure to sunlight 8 hours each day, for 4 weeks. While the control sample was stored indoor at room temperature. Triplicate samples were randomly withdrawn from both treatment and control samples each week for analysis of physical properties such as colour, total suspended solids (TSS), temperature, turbidity, conductivity, taste and odor; as well as biological properties such as Total heterotrophic bacteria and Total Coliform bacteria. Results revealed that there were no significant changes in any of the parameters tested for, and all were within the range of quality limits established for drinking water guidelines by WHO.

Keywords
effects exposure sachet water sunlight physical biological properties
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