Abstract
The microbial qualities of eighteen 500ml sachet water samples vended for drinking in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria were investigated using standard analytical tests. The results of the microbial examination indicate that only 55.56% of the samples showed coliform count ranging from 0-1 per 100ml of the samples. Results also showed that 44.44% of the 500ml sachets were contaminated by Bacillus species, 16.66% by Escherichia coli and 11.11% by Staphylococcus aureus. This indicates that only about 27.78% of the samples fell within the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) acceptable limits and are therefore safe while 72.22% are unsafe for drinking. There is therefore the need to enforce the NAFDAC drinking water regulatory guidelines and frequent monitoring should be ensured to safeguard human lives in the area of study.