Aloha, Hawaiian OK drinking-water deal
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Staff Writer
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached agreements with Aloha and Hawaiian airlines and other domestic air carriers to ensure that drinking water served on planes is safe.
"The water passengers drink on a plane should be as safe as the water they drink at home," said Ben Grumbles, EPA Office of Water assistant administrator.
The EPA's settlement with 11 major domestic airlines and 13 smaller airlines came after an investigation of 327 U.S. and foreign airlines at 19 airports — none in Hawai'i — that found total coliform bacteria contamination in 15 percent of the aircraft drinking-water systems.
Total coliform is usually harmless, but it is an indicator that other disease-causing organisms could be in the water.
Under the agreement, the carriers will face fines of up to $27,500 if they fail to adopt tougher safeguards for monitoring and disinfecting the drinking water served to passengers.
Under the agreements announced yesterday, the airlines will study possible sources of contamination, regularly monitor and disinfect their water systems, and report problems to the EPA. Still, the agency recommends that passengers with compromised immune systems or other health concerns request canned or bottled beverages when flying.
Aloha Airlines in May became the first air carrier to sign the consent decree.
"Our aircraft drinking water will continue to meet the highest standards," said Lee Steele, Aloha senior vice president for operations.
Hawaiian has been testing its water for years, "and our program for testing exceeds the EPA requirements," said spokesman Keoni Wagner.
In addition to Aloha and Hawaiian, the EPA reached settlements with AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American, America West, ATA, Champion Air, Continental, Continental Micronesia, Falcon Air Express, Frontier, Miami Air International, Midwest, North American, Northwest, Pace, Ryan International, Spirit, Sun Country, United, USAirways, USA 3000 and World Airways.
The agency continues to negotiate with Omni Air International, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines. The EPA is working with smaller carriers to ensure similar drinking-water quality standards are met.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.
