Consumers primarily purchase it from street vendors and markets, with a large portion of the population relying on it daily. However, concerns persist regarding the microbial safety of the water, with many samples failing to meet standards, and the environmental impact of the single-use plastic packaging remains a significant challenge.
How it’s used:
Daily Consumption: Sachet water serves as the primary drinking water source for many households, particularly in urban areas.
Convenience: Its portability and affordability make it a convenient option for individuals and households across the country.
Alternative to Piped Water: The widespread use of sachet water is a response to infrastructure failures and the unreliability of government-supplied water services.
Production and Quality:
Small-Scale Production: The industry involves numerous producers, with a significant number of companies operating with expired licenses.
Filtration: Producers use filtration media and other treatments to purify water, which can be drawn from various sources, including municipal piped connections.
Microbial Concerns: Despite purification efforts, numerous studies indicate that a high percentage of sachet water samples are contaminated with bacteria and parasites, failing to meet safety standards.
Environmental Concerns:
Plastic Waste: The single-use plastic sachets contribute significantly to environmental pollution.
Blocked Drains: Discarded sachets can block drainage systems, while burning them can cause air pollution.
Breeding Ground: The plastic waste can also create breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Regulation and Waste Management:
Regulatory Issues: The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is responsible for licensing producers, but many operate without current licenses, posing a challenge to oversight.
Waste Collection: Efforts are underway to manage the waste, with some areas implementing waste collection systems where households are paid for used sachets, which are then sold to recyclers.
Taxation and Policy: Ghana has considered and rescinded proposals for taxes on sachet water to fund waste management and has also explored providing subsidized sachets to low-income households.
