Chemical Analysis of Packaged Drinking Water
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Abstract
Packaged drinking water is widely consumed because it is convenient, portable and generally perceived to be safer than untreated local water sources. Its safety, however, depends on the quality of source water, treatment efficiency, packaging hygiene, storage conditions and routine chemical monitoring. The present thesis focuses on chemical analysis of packaged drinking water with emphasis on organoleptic, physicochemical and selected chemical parameters relevant to public health and regulatory compliance. A laboratory-based analytical study format was used. Sealed PET bottles and 20 litre jar or can samples were arranged as two comparison groups. Samples were coded, observed for physical acceptability and analysed by standard water-analysis procedures. Results were summarized by mean, standard deviation, independent samples t-test and chi-square analysis for selected quality categories. The thesis-format observation matrix showed that all included sample values remained within the major referenced limits used for interpretation, but 20 litre jar or can samples demonstrated higher mean TDS, hardness, chloride, nitrate and turbidity than sealed PET bottle samples. Statistical comparison supported a significant difference between the two categories for several parameters, indicating that packaged water should not be judged only by visual clarity or sealed appearance.
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