Microbial Quality Assessment of Commercial Bottled Water Brands in Major Markets in Awka, Nigeria

The microbial quality of commercial bottled water purchased from Eke-Awka, Ifite-Awka, Amaudo-Awka, Permanent Site-Awka, Amaenyi-Awka, Agu-Awka and Okpuno-Awka Markets, Nigeria were assessed for total bacteria, total fungi, total coliforms and faecal coliforms. The temperature and PH values were also determined. The total bacteria ranged between 100 and 350 cfu/ml, total fungi between 10 and 50 cfu/ml, total coliforms from 0 to 30 cfu/100ml, faecal coliforms from 0 to 20 cfu/100ml, temperature from 27 0 C to 29 0 C, and PH from 5.7 to 6.3. The microbial isolates from the samples were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Penicillium digitatum and Aspergillus niger. Coliforms were not detected from the samples from Eke-Awka and Permanent Site-Awka Markets. The microorganisms were predominant in the samples from Okpuno-Awka Market (26%) while they had the least distribution in the samples from Eke-Awka Market (4%). The predominant bacteria were the gram-negative rods. Escherichia coli was the dominant bacterium (20%) while Penicillium digitatum was the dominant fungus (20%). Most of the samples did not comply with the standard set by regulatory bodies for drinking water and are therefore unsafe for drinking without adequate treatment.