EPA, Airlines Reach Deal to Improve Water

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 1 in every 8 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, the EPA tested drinking water aboard 158 randomly selected domestic and international passenger aircraft and found that 12.6% had drinking water that did not meet federal safety standards.

Twenty of the tested planes -- small commuter aircraft to jumbo jets -- returned positive results for coliform bacteria, usually harmless itself but an indicator of the possible presence of other harmful organisms. Two planes tested positive for E. coli bacteria, which can cause gastrointestinal illness.

The airlines said they were confident their drinking water was safe, and they believed the number of airplanes that failed the agency’s safe water test was closer to 1 in 20.

Under the agreement:

* Airlines must disinfect and flush each airplane’s potable water system quarterly.

* Airlines must flush out trucks, carts and hoses that carry the water monthly.

* Airlines must notify the EPA immediately when an airplane tests positive for coliform bacteria; the EPA will ensure the problem is corrected.

* EPA will meet with the airlines quarterly over the next year to determine whether changes in the process are needed.

* After the first year, the airlines and EPA will meet for 30 days to decide on the process for the next year.