Tap Water Served On Airlines To Be Tested For Safety From Now On

by Yuliya Talmazan | October 6, 2009 at 03:11 pm

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Tap water served during flights in the US will now have to be tested in accordance with the request issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The water will have to be tested for germs and disinfected before being offered to passengers. The cost of the new water testing requirement will come to $7 million a year, but only 1 penny per ticket. In total, 63 airlines and 7,300 planes are affected by the new ruling.

The Environmental Protection Agency rules set out how frequently airlines must flush and disinfect the water systems on planes and test for coliform bacteria, which are associated with disease-causing germs. The rules apply to water supplied through aircraft water systems, not bottled water.

"This rule is a significant step forward in protecting people’s health when they travel," said Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. "EPA has taken this step to make sure the public has drinking water that meets standards, both in the air and on the ground."

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