Action News Jax Investigates: Bacteria & E. Coli found on Drinking Water on Planes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Data shows bacteria and E. coli were found in the drinking water on passenger planes flying out of Jacksonville’s airport.

Action News Jax combed through more than a year of federal data to see which flights had the most issues. We talked to a former airline pilot about the steps taken to keep you safe when you fly.

If you’ve ever taken a flight, you know the routine.

You make it through security, board your flight, take off and prepare for the eventual in-flight refreshments.

Traveler Maureen Schelero said her beverage of choice is soda.

Passenger Steve Rochford said, “If it’s a morning flight, I’ll have a cup of coffee.”

But tests reveal the water on planes may not always be safe to drink or use to wash your hands.

The federal Aircraft Drinking Water Rule was established 10 years ago to ensure passengers and crew have safe drinking water on planes. Under the rule, drinking water samples from aircraft with onboard water systems are periodically tested.

Retired commercial pilot Captain Wayne Ziskal said: “Some of these reservoirs on the big airplanes are huge. For example, a 777 has over 360 gallons. That’s more than 2,000 pounds of water that it carries on every flight.”

Using data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Action News Jax got the results of drinking water tests on flights that went out of Jacksonville International Airport between October 2018 and September 2019. There were 100 positive tests for coliform bacteria on 76 planes. Nine of those tests were positive for E. coli.

Here are some of the numbers we found:

American Airlines had the most coliform-positive tests with 50, but it also had the most flights during that time.

There were 17 coliform-positive tests on 13 Jet Blue planes.

There were two positive tests on two Delta planes, while Allegiant planes had none.

Zikal logged more than 6.8 million miles and carried nearly 1 million passengers.

Ziskal said: “Just because we had a lot of coliform positives doesn’t mean that all the drinking water in those tanks was bad. When you get the E. coli, that’s bad. That’s when you get the stomach issues, the vomiting, the whole thing.”

Federal rules also require airlines to disinfect and flush water systems, train personnel and perform self-inspections

“Think of a source of where some of this water comes from,” Ziskal said. “First of all, you may be able to inspect your tanks, but you may not be able to inspect the source, the carts that the water is carried in, the lines that they are transferred to the water tank on the aircraft. This is all potential contaminant source.”

A recent study by Dietdetective.com and the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center recommends passengers not drink water that’s not from a sealed bottle, don’t drink coffee or tea on board and use hand sanitizer instead of washing your hands during the flight.

Air traveler Paula Marcelus said: “Oh God! I guess the thought of coming out the bathroom without washing your hands … it doesn’t make you feel confident.”

In more than three decades of flying, Ziskal said neither he, his crew nor any passengers ever had any issues from the water on planes.

“I think statistics are in your favor,” Ziskal said. “In my experience, 35 years of never getting sick -- and this was before many of the standards were in place --- so I don’t think people need to forswear off the stuff, I just think people need to be careful.”

Action News Jax anchor Tenikka Hughes asked Rochford if he planned to do anything differently. He said: “To be honest, I don’t know that I would right now. I probably still would have that cup of coffee if I need to have it, if it’s an early morning flight.”

Passenger Paula Marcelus said: “I’m going to triple up now. Wash my hands, use the wipes, sanitize and we’re good.”

The EPA, FAA and FDA jointly regulate drinking water safety.

To get a look at the study and which airlines ranked the best and the worst, click here.

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