Airline Clean Drinking Water EPA Ruling

Got sick on an airplane flight?  It could have been the water.

The EPA has just published the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) to ensure that safe and reliable drinking water is provided to airline passengers and crew.  What prompted this was that in 2004, the EPA found all aircraft water systems to be out of compliance with the national primary drinking water regulations (NPDWRs).  According to the air carriers, it is not feasible for them to comply with all of the monitoring that is required in the existing regulations.

Subsequently, EPA tested 327 aircraft of which 15 percent tested positive for total coliform.  EPA considers this to be a high percentage of positive samples.  In response to these findings, EPA embarked on an accelerated process to tailor the existing regulations for aircraft public water systems.  In the interim, EPA placed 45 air carriers under Administrative Orders on Consent (AOCs). Until the final ADWR compliance dates, air carriers remain subject to the existing NPDWRs and AOCs where applicable.

It is great they are beefing up the system.  You can play safe by bringing an empty water bottle with you.  Fill it at the airport at water fountains located after security.

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5. Hot Water Recirculating Pumps

Posted on December 1st, 2009
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