Sachet water quality and brand reputation in two urban slums in Greater Accra

Sachet water has become an important primary source of drinking water in West Africa despite concerns over environmental impact and social justice, but little is known about bacteriological quality and improvements to quality control given the recent, rapid evolution of this industry. This paper examines basic bacteriological indicators for 60 sachet water samples from two very low-income communities in Accra, Ghana, and explores the relationship between local perceptions of brand quality and bacteriological quality after controlling for characteristics of the vending environment. No fecal contamination was detected in any sample, and 82% of total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) counts were below the recommended limit for packaged water. Sachets from brands with a positive reputation for quality were 90% less likely to present any level of THB after controlling for confounding factors. These results contrast with much of the recent sachet water quality literature and may indicate substantial progress in sachet water regulation and quality control.