ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF SACHET WATER SOLD BY VENDORS IN BLANTYRE CITY, BLANTYRE, MALAWI

Sachet water is one of the sources drinking water that are commonly used by people who lack access to piped water. They are commonly used in markets. In Malawi, informal sachet water is common. These sachet waters are not regulated by MBS and the information about the quality of sachet water is questionable. This research aimed at assessing the quality of sachet water that are used in Blantyre city markets. The study used quantitative research to acquire primary data. Five Areas namely (Blantyre market, Limbe, Mapanga, Bangwe and Ndirande) were selected using systematic random sampling methods, 10 vendors were selected using purposive sampling and a total of 30 sachet water packets were purchased randomly from the 10 vendors. The study analyzed the physical, chemical and microbial parameters of the sachet water. The assessed parameters were pH, temperature, salts, TDS, EC, alkalinity, chlorine, nitrate and fecal coliform. Water quality index was used to give general quality of sachet water per vendor and areas. The results indicated that EC, turbidity, salts, pH alkalinity, chlorine and nitrate were below the standard limits set by WHO and MBS. The majority of samples were contaminated with fecal coliform and did not comply with standards set by WHO and MBS standard. The results further showed that most sachet samples did not comply with MS 214 (2013) turbidity maximum limit of 1 NTU. Since these sachet waters are not regulated, this study recommends that the government through Malawi bureau of Standards should engage the stakeholders to civic educate them on the water packaging and other water quality standards that have to be adhered to.