Between August and September 2018, a team of four researchers from Cheikh-Anta-Diop University in Dakar conducted a critical study on the quality of sachet water, a widely consumed and affordable option across Senegal. The researchers collected 60 water sachets from 15 distinct brands, sourcing them from five of Dakar’s largest markets: Tilène, Thiaroye, Colobane, Grand-Yoff, and Soumbédioune. These plastic pouches typically contain between 300 ml and 500 ml of water.

The findings from this investigation are stark. Two separate tests, designed to detect the presence of microorganisms such as molds and bacteria commonly found in the environment or intestinal tracts, revealed alarming contamination levels. The detected rates significantly surpassed the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

A staggering 83 percent of the tested sachet water samples were found to be contaminated with bacteriological germs. Furthermore, 15 percent of the samples contained coliforms, which is a strong indicator of potential contamination by fecal matter.

The university study attributes these troubling results to “defective hygiene during the processing” of the water. It underscores a significant “sanitary risk” for the residents of Dakar who regularly consume this packaged water. The researchers emphasize the urgent need to “inform consumers” about these dangers and to implement stringent “controls on the sale of packaged sachet water.”

It is worth noting that in May of the previous year, Senegalese police dismantled 12 illicit production sites for these water sachets located on the outskirts of Dakar, highlighting an ongoing struggle against unregulated production.