Some airlines serve "potentially unhealthy water" to passengers, study finds

"Airlines are serving "potentially unhealthy water" to passengers, according to a new study, with researchers recommending that travelers stick to bottled water and avoid drinking coffee or tea served on aircraft. The nonprofit Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity, which examined more than 35,000 water samples served by 10 major and 11 regional airlines over three years, also urges passengers to avoid washing their hands in aircraft bathrooms and instead stick to using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol."

"The analysis found that 2.7% of samples tested positive for total coliform, a group of bacteria that's found in the digestive tracts of humans and animals, as well as in plants and soil. "Testing for coliform bacteria is important because their presence in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in the water system," the Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity said in its report. E. coli was identified 32 times across the 21 airlines, the group said."

More than 35,000 water samples served by 10 major and 11 regional airlines were examined over three years. Two point seven percent of samples tested positive for total coliform bacteria. E. coli was identified 32 times across the 21 airlines. Travelers are advised to use bottled water and avoid drinking coffee or tea served on aircraft. Passengers are also advised to avoid washing hands in aircraft bathrooms and to use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Among major U.S. airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue and Spirit received D ratings while Delta and Frontier received A grades. The EPA's Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) requires testing, disinfection and flushing of onboard water systems.

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