1. NIGERIAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY CONFERENCE OSOGBO,2009 PAPER PRESENTATION ON COMPARATIVE INVESTIGATION OF SACHET WATER QUALITY IN ABEOKUTA AND IJEBU- ODE, OGUN STATE, SOUTHWEST NIGERIA. AWOMESO et al. BY ODJEGBA ENOVWO E.

2. INTRODUCTION Recently, the problems and constraints as a result of population growth in providing potable water for human survival has been a major theme in the discussions on water. The WHO estimates that 94% of the 1.8 million annual diarrhoeal cases are preventable through modifications to the environment, including access to safe water. Access to drinking water is measured by the number of people who have a reasonable means of getting an adequate amount of water that is safe for all essential household activities. (Encyclopedia Wikipedia, 2007).

3. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREAS The study areas; Abeokuta and Ijebo-Ode, are both located in Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. Abeokuta is situated at 7°9′39″N 3°20′54″E, / 7.16083°N 3.34833°E, the Ogun River 103km north of Lagos. As of 2005, Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a population of 593,140.Ijebu Ode is located between latitude 6 0 49’N and longitude 3 0 56’E, with an estimated population of 222,653 (2007) (The World Gazetteer) it is the second largest city in Ogun State after Abeokuta.

4. METHODOLOGY 40 samples were collected for the study, 20 samples from Abeokuta and 20 samples from Ijebu-Ode. The samples were tested for pH, conductivity, TDS, Total hardness, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate, and total coliform count. The values of pH and conductivity were determined using Orion bench pH-electro conductivity meter. Analysis of samples for TDS was done by gravimetric method (Ademoroti, 1996). Nitrate, chloride, total hardness and total alkalinity concentrations were determined using standard methods (Ademoroti, 1996 and APHA, 1976).

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. TDS, pH, Conductivity, Total hardness, Chloride and total alkalinity values all fell within the maximum acceptable standards set by WHO. However two samples (one each from both towns) had high nitrate values and Ijebu – Ode had one sample with nitrate value exceeding the 50mg/l limit by WHO. The result of the bacteriological analysis revealed that 8 samples from Ijebu Ode contained Escherichia coli, 3 contained Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 2 contained Proteus mirabilis while another 2 contained Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the samples from Abeokuta fared better as 9 samples were without bacterial contamination. Except for Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found in the remaining 11 samples.

6. CONCLUSION On a general note, except for the result of bacteriological analysis as well as that of nitrate, the samples could be described as safe. However, considering the health implications, the strains of bacteria discovered in most of the samples and the effect of nitrate on infants, one can conclude that besides profit making, these factories should be quality conscious. It will be a good thing if these factories could have mini – treatment plants equipped with same laboratories where their water could be treated and then tested both before and after packaging.

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