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By Kelechi Nwaucha
As the world marks the World Water Day, non-governmental organisation, OLEGH Centre for Cornmunity Developrnent has drawn attention to the unhealthy volume of lead contaminated water sold in sachets, popularly known as ‘Pure Water,’ on the streets of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Briefing the press on Monday, executive director of OLEGH Centre for Cornmunity Developrnent, Henry Eferegbo, said over 98 percent of the so-called ‘pure water’ sold in Port Harcourt Township and environs contain unhealthy levels of lead and microbiological contaminants.
Flanked by Comrade Isaac Green (executive director of Relief International), Rebecca Apenu (OLEGH) and Prince Ekpere Edegbuo (Social Action), Eferegbo said that as part of activities marking World Water Day 2025, and with support from BothEnds, “OLEGH Centre commissioned a research on the portability and quality of Sachet Water in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of Rivers State.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), water-related diseases kill a child every eight seconds, and are responsible for 80% of all illnesses and death in developing countries.
Eferegbo said that while sachet water often referred to as ‘Pure Water’ in Nigeria “is intended to provide safe and affordable drinking options to complement the high cost of table water and the government’s inability to provide potable water for its citizens, our findings reveal a concerning reality.”
A study of thirteen samples, selected at random from various locations, including Rukpokwu, Rumuokoro, Choba, Rumuola, Dline, and Port Harcourt Township, indicated the presence of heavy metals including lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and manganese (Mn), Eferegbo said.
“The samples were titled SVW1, SW2 to SW13. Sachet or pure water quality in the study area is not significantly different from that in other locations as revealed in studies conducted, particularly in terms of microbiological contaminants and heavy metal level.
“The present investigation observed lower pH values in five (5) of the sachet water samples analyzed (SW3,4,5,9,13), they are lower than the recommended limits by WHO and drinking water supplies with pH values below 6.5 may be unsafe for human consumption as consumers with compromised immunity may suffer from gastrointestinal infections.
“Although the difference between the observed pH values and permissible standards is quite small, the operators of the industry should take necessary measures to control the pH from source during production.
“Other physicochemical parameters investigated were well below the recommended limits except for lead (Pb). Over 98% of the water brands or samples (SW2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13) had lead (Pb) levels in excess of the limits. This portends danger to the unsuspecting public as lead (Pb) is implicated for cancer, interference with vitamin D metabolism, low intelligent quotient (|Q) in infant and children; and toxic to the central and peripheral nervous system.
“Chromium (Cr) was observed in only two brands (SW3,4) which also exceeded limits, but was undetected in the remaining eleven (11) brands (SW1,2,5, 6,7,8,9, 10,11, 12,13). Chromium is also known to be carcinogenic. Nickel was present in seven (7) water brands (SW1,2,3,9, 10,11, 13), five(5) (SW1,2,3, 10,11) of which were higher than the limits. Nickel is also a possible carcinogen.
“Manganese was detected in nine brands (SW1,2,3,7,9,10,11,12,13), however only in brands 10 and 11 did its concentration exceed limits. The remaining four (SW4, 5, 6, 8) had no manganese as its concentration were negative (undetected). Manganese is known to cause neurological disorder. The results of bacterial analysis indicate that Total Heterotrophic Bacteria (THB), Total Coliform Bacteria (TCB), and Faecal Coliform Bacteria (FCB) counts were high in all the water brands; all the other counts were higher than the WHO permissible limits in drinking water,” he said.
Lamenting the negative impact on public health standards, Eferegbo noted that sachet water “has become a choice form of potable water supply not because it is available, affordable and presumably safe for human consumption but because it covers the yearning need of the populace for pipe-borne water, a vital commodity the government has failed to provide.
“However, the public health issues associated with the poor production practices, improper storage, transportation, packaging materials, and vending of sachet water cannot be overlooked. Many sachet water brands may not have taste, odour and colour issues but fail pH test, have heavy metals and are of concentrations high unsafe.”
He therefore called for regulatory oversight and for NAFDAC to strictly regulate the quality of sachet water to ensure standards ane maintained; the state Ministry of Water Resources to provide potable and safe drinkig water to citizens in order to save lves and reduce chronic ilinesses, and for Sachet water factories to provide large storage faciities aimed at protecting the products from sunlight which may accelerate bacterial growth.
Eferegbo further noted that the theme of the World Water Day, “Glacier Preservation'”, underscores the critical role glaciers play in nature such as supporting agricultural activities, generating hydroelectric power, and providing drinking water supplies which is essential for millions of people around the world.
“Glacier provides essential ecosystem services such as regulating global climate, shapíng unique habitats and supporting life in high-altitude regions. Glaciers form the largest reservoirs of fresh water on our planet, holding approximately 75% of the world’s fresh water supply and cover about 10% of the Earth’s total land area.
“While the world is advocating for the protection and preservation of Glacier in order for this vital resource to continue to play its natural role, OLEGH Centre frowns at the continuous abuse of fresh water in Nigeria.
“Water is one of the several natural resources, especially, fresh water in the Niger Delta but often abused because of its abundance, however, its quality potents grave danger to human health and its wellbeing,” he said.
