water on board
Traveling can definitely take a toll on the body, so of course it’s important to take the necessary steps to ensure a relaxing journey. Some travelers indulge in pre-flight coffee or tea but that could be a move that you’ll soon regret. Have you ever noticed why flight crews skip out on the coffee and tea while on board? No it’s not because they’re working – it’s actually because they have a better idea of what actually in the water than most passengers do.
Well, the dirty little secret of flying is that the water used to make the coffee and tea is, well, dirty. A recent NBC investigative report confirms what airline employees have known for years. Think twice about drinking the water – unless you see it served from a bottle, preferably one you open yourself.
The NBC report obtained documents from the EPA which confirm that years after the EPA began a program to clean up airplane water, the problem of bacteria in the drinking water persists on a high percentage of airline flights. While the EPA first focused on this problem in 2004, the airlines have been working on it far longer, albeit not as successfully as passengers would hope.
water on board
Two major reasons why you may want to steer clear of airline water on board are as follows:
– Former airline employees reporting processing & bleach the water tanks that hold the water and flush out the system.
– Reports of airline tank attendants admitting to finding tanks and their hoses filled with sediment accumulating in the system, sediment that was akin to pond scum.
According to the NBC report, the EPA does not have any confirmed reports of people getting sick from airplane water. Still, experts consulted by NBC warned that infants and those with compromised immune systems should stay away from airline drinking water.
