tHE TRUTH ABOUT SACHET WATER

Water is arguably the most essential commodity available to man. Without it, life would be unbearable. For many years, people have drunk water from well, streams, lakes and rivers. Most households harvest rainwater. These sources of water usually come untreated. With the expansion of population and industrial revolution, almost all of our sources of water have become contaminated. These extreme water pollution has for years, caused the outbreak of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, salmonella, E. Coli amongst others.

There’s been a sudden upsurge of bottled and sachet water companies in the Country. Some of these producers get their water from boreholes, springs and even the pipe borne water from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL). Different water sources have different purity levels. Consumers therefore must take into consideration the source of the water they are using.

Sachet water, commonly referred to as pure water, has become a household name. It refers to water that has been packaged into small sachet bags for easy mobility. It is cheaper to produce, transport and readily accessible. The high cost of bottled water has given way to people who are not properly trained to produce sachet water. It has therefore become necessary for consumers to be extra conscious of the health risks associated with the consumption of sachet water. Here are four of the reasons why we should stop taking sachet water.

The first reason why we must avoid sachet water is the lack of proper supervision. Most of the sachet water producers are not monitored. Some operate in remote areas with fake registration numbers and address, thereby making it difficult for authorities like the Ghana Standard Authority to monitor them. It is possible that the water will not be produced under proper hygienic conditions. Also, the water might not be well treated which can result in disease contamination. Water that is not properly treated produces foul taste and odour making it very unpleasant and unsafe for drinking. The inability of authorities to monitor them means also, that we cannot trust the production and expiry dates placed on them. Taking in such unpleasant water from untrusted sources can be injurious to health.

The second reason why we must stop taking sachet water is the possibility of Bisphenol A (BPA) leaching into the water. BPA is a chemical that is used primarily for the manufacturing of various plastics which includes the one used in packaging sachet water. When the sachets are exposed to the sun, it causes the BPA to leach into the water. Distribution vehicles that supply water to the vendors usually expose them to the sun. Because the vendors are also not properly trained on how to handle the water, they expose them to the sun’s rays when they store them outside. The longer the exposure, the more the BPA will be leached into the water. BPA has been linked to several health issues including hypertension, heart attack and breast cancer.

Thirdly, sachet water poses grave danger to the environment. The improper disposal of sachet water bags has become a major cause of river and sea pollution. The bags are made of nonbiodegradable synthetic polyethylene which does not decay, decompose or corrode, and which when burnt, produces oxides of carbon, nitrogen and Sulphur causing land and air pollution. Environmental littering discussions cannot be held without the mentioning of sachet bags. Almost all of our blocked drainage system is caused by plastics. Sachet water is cheaper and readily accessible but no proper means of disposal is available.

Lastly, the sachet water you are taking could only be the tap water from the GWCL. Avoid the health risks associated with drinking directly from the tap. Tap water is usually exposed to bacteria, unregulated chlorine, and other contaminants that are harmful to health. These can cause serious infections, especially to kids who have a lower immune system hence more vulnerable. Also, if you are only drinking unpurified water from the tap in the form of sachet water, then you are paying more for an inexpensive commodity from GWCL by other means.

Sachet water consumption comes with risks that can be avoided by other means such as Reverse Osmosis and Water Dispenser.

A Reverse Osmosis (RO) System is a form of filtration that removes particles from water. It is a proven technology that removes a wide range of disease causing contaminants from water. RO deionizes water by forcing it at high pressure through a semi permeable membrane that prevents the passage of various substances. It is the only water filtration method that purifies sea water. It also removes bad taste and odour associated with contaminated water.

RO employs an Ultraviolent(UV) water purification system that removes 99% of dissolved substances like fluoride, ion, chlorine, herbicides and pesticides from water. UV water purifier makes water borne diseases inactive by exposing them to UV rays. It is mounted in such a manner that when water passes through, it will be exposed to UV rays that will penetrate the cells of bacteria and destroy their ability to reproduce. The germs are destroyed with UV rays after the RO stage and gives pure drinking water.

RO is cost-effective and can work perfectly with or without electricity. RO is easy to install and maintain and can also fit perfectly under the kitchen sink. When you have it installed, you can forego the purchasing of bottled water because you can equally get clean water at home.

Like the reverse osmosis system, a water dispenser offers purified, safe, and clean drinking water. They are convenient devices that provides a quick and easy way to obtain drinking water. Bottled water coolers are an alternative way to provide instantly chilled, filtered water. Water dispensers provide the option of having your water cooled or heated immediately. This feature has made these devices a necessity in many residential homes and businesses. Water dispensers goes through a three-step filtration process to provide purified water.

The first step is the carbon filtration. Water dispensers goes through a high-performance carbon filtration that helps improve the quality of drinking water using highly-porous pieces of carbon that remove the impurities that impact the taste, colour, and smell of your tap water. These impurities can include chlorine, petrochemicals, and other toxins.