Airlines Agree to Drinking Water Tests

[goobergunch]

By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The government and a dozen airlines struck a deal Tuesday requiring sanitation improvements and increased testing of drinking water aboard aircraft after officials found evidence of harmful bacteria in the water of one in every eight planes tested.

At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would perform random water quality tests on 169 domestic and international passenger aircraft at 14 airports throughout the United States and publish the results by the end of the year.

If coliform bacteria are discovered, the airliners will have to be disinfected within 24 hours unless the agency grants an extension because the plane involved is outside the United States. In the meantime, passengers would find signs posted in the lavatories and galleys of affected aircraft.

Two months ago, EPA tested drinking water aboard 158 randomly selected domestic and international passenger aircraft and found that 12.6 percent had drinking water that did not meet federal safety standards.

more...http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=5&u=/ap/20041110/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/airlines_unsafe_water

[eleonora]

1. hm, no more ice in my drink then

[sweetheart]

2. I would love to see more tests

I swear some airline seats are so covered with bacteria that they
are filthier than any surface in a public restroom. As well, the
air quality in airlines surely is rather dodgey, as you can see the
impressive dust plumes of particles swirling in the air in the
sunlight.

Some airport terminals as well. It seems these companies save
money on cleaning, that carpets, walls and surfaces collect bacteria
worse than places that are regularly cleaned.

If the water is bad on 1 out of 8, its just the tip of the iceburg.

[UL_Approved]

3. Sounds like something that happens at national parks

No surprise that it happens in a poorly regulated industry that frequently mingles the government regulation officials in and out of corporate jobs. And that's just the Forest Service...