United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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Aircraft Drinking Water Rule
A Quick Reference Guide
Overview of the Rule
Title
Purpose
General
Description
Aircraft
Covered by
the ADWR
Components
of an Aircraft
Water
System
Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) 74 FR 53590. October 19, 2009
To ensure that safe and reliable drinking water is provided to aircraft passengers and crew by
amending and consolidating National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for aircraft public
water systems (PWSs).
To protect against disease-causing microbiological contaminants through the required
development and implementation of aircraft water system operations and maintenance plans.
The plans include routine disinfection and flushing of the water system, air carrier training
requirements for key personnel, and periodic sampling of the onboard drinking water, as well
as self-inspections of each aircraft water system and immediate notification of passengers and
crew when violations or specific situations occur.
The ADWR applies only to aircraft with onboard water systems that provide water for
human consumption through pipes and regularly serve an average of at least twenty-five
individuals daily, at least 60 days out of the year, and that board only finished water for human
consumption. Human consumption includes water for drinking, hand washing, food preparation,
and oral hygiene.
Aircraft water systems include the water service panel, the filler neck of the aircraft finished
water storage tank, and all finished water storage tanks, piping, treatment equipment, and
plumbing fixtures within the aircraft that supply water to passengers or crew.
Major Provisions
Operations and Maintenance (O&M Plan)
Air carriers develop and implement an O&M plan for each aircraft water system in active service. More than
one aircraft can be covered by the same O&M plan. The water system O&M plan must be included in a Federal
Aviation Administration-accepted aircraft operations and maintenance program. If a new aircraft or PWS is
added to an air carrier fleet, the aircraft is added to an existing O&M plan or a new O&M plan is developed. The
O&M plan for the new aircraft is implemented by the end of the first calendar quarter during which the aircraft is
placed into service.
Each aircraft
water system
O&M plan
includes:
Coliform
^- Watering point selection requirement - all water sources must be from a watering point
selected in accordance with Food and Drug Administration regulations [21 CFR part
1240subpart E].
^- Procedures for routinely disinfecting and flushing the aircraft water system in accordance
with the manufacturer's recommendations.
^- Procedures for follow-up coliform sampling after a corrective disinfection and flushing
event.
^- Training requirements for all staff involved with the O&M provisions of the rule and those
managing or conducting the coliform sampling requirements of the rule.
^- Self-inspection procedures, procedures for boarding water, and the coliform sampling
plan.
^- A statement of whether the aircraft water system can be physically disconnected or shut
off so that the flow of water through the tap(s) is prevented.
Sampling Plan
Air carriers develop a coliform sampling plan covering each aircraft owned or operated by the carrier. Sampling
plans are developed for each new aircraft by the end of the calendar quarter in which the aircraft is placed in
service.
At a minimum, all
plans include the
following:
^- Coliform sample collection procedures.
^- Sample tap location(s) representative of the aircraft water system, including both galley
and lavatory taps.
^- Frequency and number of routine coliform samples to be collected.
^- Frequency of routine disinfection and flushing as specified in the operations and
maintenance plan.
^- Procedures for communicating sample results to ensure any required actions including
repeat and follow-up sampling, corrective action, and notification of passengers and crew
are conducted in a timely manner.
Routine Disinfection and Flushing
Air carriers routinely disinfect and flush aircraft PWSs at the frequency recommended by the water system
manufacturer or, if not specified by the manufacturer, may choose from one of four options.
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For additional information
on the ADWR
Call the Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at 1-800-
426-4791; visit the EPA
web site at http://www.epa.
gov/drink; or contact your
EPA Regional Office.
Coliform Sampling Requirements
All aircraft PWSs sample for total coliform bacteria according to the frequency and procedures described in
the coliform sampling plan. The routine sampling frequency is based on the routine disinfection and flushing
frequency—the more often an aircraft PWS disinfects, the less often it is required to monitor for coliform.
Routine coliform samples may be collected immediately prior to but not within 72 hours after a routine
disinfection and flushing event.
Each routine, repeat, or follow-up sample that is positive for total coliform is tested for the presence of E. coli. If
any sample is positive for E. coli, public notification and corrective disinfection and flushing are triggered.
Air carriers select from specified options for follow-up and corrective measures when routine coliform samples
indicate total coliform but E. coli contamination is not present. The options include collecting 3 repeat samples
within 24 hours or disinfecting and flushing the system with follow-up sampling.
>• The disinfection and flushing procedure must be completed within 72 hours unless public access is
restricted.
^- If any repeat sample is positive for coliform, public notification and corrective disinfection and flushing
with follow-up sampling are triggered.
Corrective Disinfection and Flushing
If corrective disinfection and flushing is opted or required, air carriers follow the procedures in their O&M plans.
Unscheduled flight disruptions to perform corrective disinfection and flushing can be minimized by shutting
off the water or preventing the flow of water to the taps. Before allowing unrestricted access to the aircraft
water system, a complete set of two follow-up samples must be collected and submitted for analysis after the
disinfection and flushing event if triggered by a total coliform-positive sample, and must be reported as total
coliform-negative if triggered by an E. co//-positive sample.
Each aircraft PWS must be inspected by the air carrier at least every 5 years according to the procedures in their
O&M plans. At a minimum, the self-inspection procedures for an aircraft water system must include inspection
of the storage tank, distribution system, supplemental treatment, fixtures, valves, and backflow prevention
devices. Any deficiencies detected must be addressed, and any deficiency that is unresolved within 90 days of
identification of the deficiency must be reported to EPA.
Public Notification
Notification of passengers and crew onboard the aircraft is required when:
^- Any sample results are total coliform-positive or E. co//-positive.
^- An air carrier fails to perform required routine disinfection and flushing.
^- An air carrier fails to collect required samples.
^- An air carrier boards water from a watering point that does not meet FDA regulations, EPA standards,
or is otherwise determined to be unsafe.
^- EPA, the air carrier, or crew determines public notification is necessary to protect public health.
For E. co//-positive events or when EPA, the air carrier, or crew determines public notification is necessary, notice
must be issued within 24 hours. For all other situations, notice must be issued within 72 hours.
^- Notice to passengers need not be provided if the water is shut off, if flow of water to taps is prevented,
or if water is supplied only to the lavatory toilets and not the lavatory or galley taps.
Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements
Air carriers submit compliance information to EPA including sampling results; all events requiring public
notification and corrective disinfection and flushing; notification of failure to comply with monitoring or disinfection
and flushing requirements; and evidence of self-inspection, along with a report of unresolved deficiencies. Most
reporting will be done electronically to the ADWR Reporting and Compliance System, a database developed and
supported by EPA.
Records of coliform sampling, disinfection and flushing, self-inspections, and public notices are kept by the air
carrier. Sampling plans and O&M plans are maintained and made available for EPA review.
Within 18
months of the
final rule
April 19,2011
24 months after
the final rule
October 19,2011
*• Develop a coliform sampling plan and report to EPA that it has been completed.
^- Develop O&M plans that cover every aircraft PWS and report to EPA that they have been
completed.
^- Report the coliform sampling and disinfection and flushing frequencies to EPA for each
aircraft.
^- Report the complete air carrier inventory of aircraft that are PWSs to EPA.
^- The compliance date for all other rule requirements applies, unless otherwise noted.
Office of Water (4606M)
EPA-816-F-10-077
http://www.epa.gov/drink
October 2010
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