Abstract:
Though water is grouped under the basic needs for survival of life on earth, it needs to be
highly protected and used properly. In Ethiopia most of the rural areas have no still
enough water supply and in most urban areas there is a choice of bottled and tap water.
Due to the presence of both waters most of the consumers have chance to choose the best.
Physico chemical and microbial analysis and assessment of both water types is essential.
All the physico chemical parameters were analysed using palintest water quality testing
method using photometer and tablets.
In this study four kinds of bottled water and tap
water sampled in the Debre berhan town have investigated and assessed for their
Physico chemical and microbial parameters, like turbidity, pH, TDS, chemical
parameters like calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphate, nitrite and total coliform
and salmonella were analysed. All the parameters are within the WHO recommendation
for the tap water and bottled waters analysed (except fluoride content which is below
0.6mg/L can cause tooth decay for children when they consume much amount of these
water types). And also all water types have hardness value below 50mg/L which indicates
all water types analysed are soft. Moreover the water bottling companies should include
all parameters on their label and drinking those water types may cause children tooth
decaying when exposed for longer time.
