How Pure Is The “Pure Water” You Drink?

Everyone who lives or has ever lived in Nigeria knows pure water. It is water packaged in 500ml

sachets. They came into being to replace the iced water tied manually in small transparent nylons in those days. They became popular because of their affordability and the fact that many people stopped drinking the water from government sources which were not flowing anyway and when they flowed, you drank at the risk of illnesses and diseases. Pure water has come to stay in Nigeria.

                          

Sachet water, bottled water and water dispensers came to fill a gap when the government water bodies failed us and they have done a good job. The issue now is that there are so many brands of sachet water that carry NAFDAC registration and it is hard to know what to trust or believe. Like many businesses in Nigeria, many people with little training and knowledge have joined the band wagon of packaging water for commercial consumption. Are they observing the proper hygiene standards? Are they following any procedures and regulations? Is it being produced to meet the right parameters for table water? Are they adding the right things in the correct amount? These are some of the questions we need to ask before choosing a supplier.

Production of food and beverages should be by food technologists who would have had training in biochemistry, microbiology, chemistry and anything related to food safety, handling and hygiene. If the owner of the water packaging company is not a food technologist, is there one in their employment? Sometimes one drinks some packaged water and the taste is off.

The way the packages are handled can be appalling. We the consumers are to blame sometimes. We leave the sachets on the floor and don’t even wash off before drinking straight from the sachet.

Water gives life and we cannot do without drinking water. Water supply to houses has resumed in some parts of Lagos but can one vouch for the safety? Some are not even up to the 500ml quantity most packaging companies claim, so how can one  be sure of other claims?

So how can you ensure that you are drinking good water? It is best to boil your drinking water if you are really concerned about safety. If you have a borehole source of water, why not just boil and drink? You will know what you are putting in your body. If you buy packaged water, buy from a good source and complain if you feel they have not done things right. If you are a water producer and you are reading this, please ensure that what you are giving us is what you have put on your label. PURE WATER.

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