AldayBaldridge451
Water is one of the most abundant commodities of man and occupies about 70% from the earth's surface, yet a greater percentage of the world's population live without use of safe drinking water, specially in the developing countries. The importance of good quality drinking water can't be overemphasized. In many developing countries, accessibility to water has turned into a critical and urgent problem which is a matter of great concern to families and communities based on non-public water supply system.
The provision of portable water towards the rural and urban population is essential to prevent health risks. Unsafe water is really a global public health threat, placing persons in danger of a number of diseases as well as chemical intoxication. It has been reported which more than 2 million persons, mostly children less than 5 years of age, die of diarrheal diseases and according to the WHO (2004), nearly 90% of diarrhea-related deaths happen to be attributed to unsafe or inadequate water supplies and sanitation. The WHO estimated in 2006 that 1.1 billion persons lack access to clean water.
What Exactly is 'Pure Water'?
Nigeria is located in coastal West Africa where water is abundant, yet most of the population lacks adequate and safe drinking water. Consequently, individuals who are able to afford it now sink boreholes and sell water, with no major type of treatment, to the ever-growing population. Many individuals and corporate bodies in Nigeria now participate in packaging water in polyethene sachets around 50-60cl popularly called 'pure water' which they sell to the public. Thus, h2o is commercially accessible such easy-to-open sachets. The development, marketing and consumption of sachet water have raised tremendously. Nowadays there are several brands of the sachet water marketed in Nigeria and other developing countries.
Why Should We Be Concerned?
In Nigeria, public drinking water supply is unreliable thereby encouraging the sale of drinking water in polyethene sachets due to its availability and affordability. However, there's worry about the purity water in sachets. The integrity from the environment and the conditions to which the majority of the sachets are produced are questionable because many who are engaged in its production do not follow the standards set by WHO (2006) and also the Federal Epa, FEPA (1999). Top quality water is supposed to be colorless, odorless, and tasteless in addition to being free of microbial and chemical contaminants. Majority of the consumers tend to be concerned with the appearance and taste water compared to invisible load of potentially harmful microorganisms as well as other contaminants which may be present in water.
In recent years and in yesteryear, lots of researches happen to be carried out in various parts of the nation to look for the purity of sachet water, and most from the results point towards exactly the same conclusion: our so called 'pure water' may not be completely safe for drinking. The outcomes of most of the studies on sachet water to find out purity and safety have almost always churned up proof of microbial and in some cases chemical contaminants.
Regulatory Body
The National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is definitely an agency from the Nigerian government charged with regulating the manufacture and sale of food, drugs and cosmetics in the country by extension, has oversight from the packaged water industry. NAFDAC itself has been criticized for failing to adequately police the industry. Some information mill known to submit fake samples to be able to pass NAFDAC tests and gain a number plate, but then sell untreated tap water labeled as pure. Others merely imprint a completely fake NAFDAC number on their packaging. Another area which NAFDAC has also neglected may be the channel of distribution from the sachet water. There is evidence that this sachet water get contaminated after leaving production sites while in the hands of distributors, and vendors/hawkers due to poor handling and storage.
The Way Forward
A lot is considered although not much continues to be done about the excellence of the sachet water in distribution in developing countries. Some have proposed an overall total ban on sachet water, but advocates of this idea need to consider the institutional inadequacies in public places water supply and also the huge economic benefits of sachet water. However, activities of regulatory agencies should be intensified to ensure compliance with standards. Regulatory activities that promote core hygiene values (e.g., hand washing, general cleanliness of storage environment and vendor containers) and a proper handling culture could produce the desired improvements. The main focus has to shift from only the monitoring of the end-product as this does not always provide a complete picture in terms of microbiological risk assessment. The distribution methods and channels need also come individually distinct. There is also requirement for public sensitization and monitoring/regulating of sachet water vendors.
