The health-related microbiological quality of bottled drinking water sold in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

The consumption of bottled and plastic-bagged drinking water in Tanzania has increased largely because of the deteriorating quality of tap water. It is uncertain whether these water products are safe for drinking. In this study, the microbiological quality of bottled and plastic-bagged drinking water sold in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was investigated. One hundred and thirty samples representing 13 brands of bottled water collected from shops, supermarkets and street vendors were analysed for total coliform and faecal coliform organisms as well as heterotrophic bacteria. These were compared with 61 samples of tap water. Heterotrophic bacteria were detected in 92% of the bottled water samples analysed. Total and faecal coliform bacteria were present in 4.6% and 3.6%, respectively, of samples analysed with a tendency for higher contamination rates in plastic-bagged drinking water. Microbiological quality of tap water was found to be worse compared with bottled water, with 49.2% and 26.2% of sampling points showing the presence of total coliform and faecal coliform organisms, respectively. The results suggest caution and vigilance to avert outbreaks of waterborne diseases from these types of drinking water.

Bacteriological quality of bottled natural mineral waters commercialized in Hungary

“…High levels of HPC in non-carbonated mineral waters are usually indicative of the natural proliferation of autochthonous bacteria present in low numbers in the source water, although sometimes contamination within the bottling plant is considered to be responsible (Kassenga, 2007;Manaia, Nunes, Morais, & Da Costa, 1990;Stickler, 1989). The rapid growth of bacteria after the mineral water is bottled may be due to oxygenation of the water during processing, the increase in surface area provided by the bottle, the increase in temperature, and the amount of nutrients arising from the bottle (Warburton, 2000;Warburton et al, 1992).…”

Quality assessment of commercially supplied drinking jar water in Chittagong City, Bangladesh

“…The prevalence of fecal indicator and heterotrophic bacteria with levels exceeding drinking water guideline has been reported (Olaoye and Onilude 2009; Kassenga et al 2007;Svagzdiene et al 2010). Pathogenic microorganisms in bottled water can multiply during storage and can reach a level which can be detrimental to consumers.…”

Bottling Spring Water from a Serbian Mountain

“…In addition, bottled water plays a significant role as a very important product in some areas of the world where groundwater is scarce [9] or, in the case of many developing countries, where the public water supply is not potable [10]. Tests at the international level have shown that people prefer bottled water because they assume that it is safer and of better quality than water from public water supplies [11][12][13][14]. Francisco [15] showed that public distrust of the safety and quality of the municipal water supply is the main reason for the population's preference for bottled water as the primary drinking water source.…”