Storage and its Effect on Chemical Quality Indicators in Sachet Water Brands Sold in Owerri Municipal, Imo State, Nigeria

This study investigated the effect of storage on certain sachet water quality indicators over a twelve-week period. Three brands of sachet water were collected within 24 h of production and analyzed for pH, nitrate, phosphate, and dissolved oxygen. These were then placed in normal storage. According to our results, pH values increased significantly in all brands after week 8. Moreover, nitrate and dissolved oxygen values decreased throughout the investigation period, while phosphate values increased in all brands tested. All tested brands showed various degree of variation over the period of study. Still, all brands analyzed were within permissible limit by World Health Organization (WHO) stipulations. However, continuous storage can significantly alter the chemical quality indicators to a level that exceeds the limit set by WHO, hence, becoming harmful to human health. Therefore, it is recommended that sachet water should not be stored for more than 12 weeks from the date of production.