Ever feel parched on your flight? You might want to keep it that way until you land.
An airline water study conducted by Diet Detective and the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center this year examined water conditions in 11 major airlines and 12 regional airlines.
Testing the water on a scale of 0 to 5, with 5 being the best, the study examined whether or not the water contained coliform bacteria or E. coli and also the number of times airlines failed to comply with the federal government’s Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR), which enforces airlines to distribute safe water to passengers.
If the airline scored a 3 or above, that means their water is safe to drink. Out of the 11 major airlines, three passed the test, and only one of the 12 regional airlines made the cut.
Alaska and Allegiant scored a 3.3 and Hawaiin scored a 3.1. Wondering which airlines scored the worst? JetBlue and Spirit. The study says that those who scored low possibly had E. coli in there water, which means you’d be sipping on a disease-causing bacteria.
Of course all airlines serve bottled water, but there are other ways you can come across it. Like in the restroom or drinking coffee or tea. So next time you’re on a flight, avoid washing your hands and maybe use some hand sanitizer instead! And be sure to ask for bottled water instead if you’re unsure.
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