Study Reveals Bacterial Contamination in Airplane Water, Prompts Health Warnings for Passengers
According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, passengers are being advised to drink only bottled water, avoid coffee and tea served onboard, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizers instead of washing hands with airplane tap water. The recommendations follow a three-year study by the nonprofit “Food as Medicine and Longevity” center, which analyzed over 35,000 water samples from 10 major and 11 regional U.S. airlines.
The study found that 2.7% of samples were contaminated with coliform bacteria, while E. coli was detected 32 times across 21 airlines. Despite regulations under the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) requiring regular testing and disinfection, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rarely enforced serious penalties for violations.
Among major carriers, Delta Airlines and Frontier Airlines received top grades (A) for water quality, followed by Alaska Airlines and Allegiant Air (B). Southwest Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines scored C grades, while Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and American Airlines received the lowest D ratings. In the regional sector, GoJet Airlines performed best with a B grade, while Mesa Airlines received the worst rating (F).
In response to the findings, American Airlines stated its water program fully complies with EPA regulations, JetBlue emphasized its use of bottled water, and both Spirit and Southwest confirmed regular monitoring of water quality standards.
