{"id":31868,"date":"2025-12-29T09:20:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/?p=31868"},"modified":"2025-12-29T09:53:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:53:49","slug":"airline-water-study-2026-faqs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_pr\/airline-water-study-2026-faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"Airline Water Study 2026 FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FAQ SECTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

General FAQ <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. What is the ADWR?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The ADWR is a set of regulations meant to ensure the safety of drinking water on aircraft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. What prompted the EPA to create the ADWR?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      In 2004, the EPA found all aircraft PWSs<\/a> to be out of compliance with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. This prompted the agency to create a new set of drinking water regulations specific to aircraft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. What kind of aircraft are required to comply with the ADWR?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        The ADWR is a subpart of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations<\/a>. Aircraft with water systems on board that meet the criteria of \u201cpublic water systems<\/a>\u201d as defined with the SDWA and NPDWRs, and that board only finished water for human consumption must comply with ADWR regulations. Aircraft are considered \u201ctransient non-community water systems<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        1. When did the ADWR go into effect?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Applicable aircraft needed to comply with ADWR regulations beginning October 19, 2011. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          1. Which agencies enforce the ADWR?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Drinking water safety on air carriers is jointly regulated<\/a> by the EPA, FAA, and FDA. However, the EPA is the agency that enforces the statutes of the ADWR. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            1. How are international air carriers regulated?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              International aircraft that only make one stop in the U.S. for the sole purpose of unloading passengers transported from outside the US and\/or loading passengers for transportation to a destination outside of the U.S. are generally excluded from ADWR regulations. In other words, if an aircraft services two or more U.S. locations before returning to an international location, that aircraft must comply with the ADWR while it operates within the U.S.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              U.S. air carriers must include their procedures for boarding water<\/a> into their O&M plans to be approved by the FAA. Part of those procedures includes: \u201cA description of how the carrier will ensure that water boarded outside the United States is safe for human consumption.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              1. What does the ADWR say about chemical, rather than bacterial, contamination?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                As of now, the ADWR only outlines procedures for addressing bacterial contaminations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                1. What if air carriers want to do more than the minimum recommendations of the EPA?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  The ADWR does not outline any suggested procedures beyond their minimum requirements. However, the rule states that air carriers may introduce supplemental treatments<\/a> into their routine plans, so long as the treatments are approved by the FAA and FDA. The supplemental treatments may not act as a replacement for the ADWR. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                  1. Has the ADWR been updated since 2011?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    In 2016, the EPA implemented the \u201cRevised Total Coliform Rule<\/a> (RTCR)\u201d, which made revisions in maximum contaminant levels and treatment technique requirements. However, this revised rule applied to all public water systems, not just aircraft. All public water systems under the ADWR were required to analyze their water samples for coliform and E. Coli following the provisions of the RTCR beginning April 1, 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                    1. What if the water from the local municipality is found to have contaminants that may be hazardous to human health?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                      The ADWR does not go into great detail about the water quality of municipalities surrounding airports. However, it does state that if the public water system<\/a> that provides water to be boarded onto the aircraft is out of compliance with NPDWRs, it is required under the NPDWRs to notify all users of that water system, which naturally includes airport authorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Coliform and Sampling FAQ <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                      1. Where are the water samples tested? Who are they tested by?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                        Water samples are collected by the air carriers themselves. The physical water samples are then sent to and tested by EPA-approved laboratories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                        1. Do aircraft close to the public if a water sample is found the be contaminated with E. Coli?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                          The aircraft must restrict access to water on board within 24 hours<\/a> if a water sample is determined to be contaminated with E. Coli. Disinfection and flushing procedures must take place within 72 hours of the discovery. A follow-up sample must be collected, and the results must be coliform-negative before the aircraft provides water for human consumption. However, passengers and crew can still remain on the aircraft as long as public access to the aircraft water system is barred. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                          1. What if a water sample is found to test positive for coliform, but negative for E. Coli?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                            A positive test for coliform may indicate that dangerous pathogens may be in the water tank. If any routine, repeat, or follow-up coliform sample is coliform-positive, the air carrier must also test to determine if E. coli is present in the sample as well. The aircraft cannot provide water for human consumption until the follow-up samples are coliform negative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                             In this scenario, the aircraft must perform at least one of the three<\/a> following options, and continue with that option, until a follow-up sample is coliform-negative:<\/p>\n\n\n\n