A while ago, I reported on the state of drinking water on airplanes. My article dug into how water is stored on planes (in large tubs), how it’s treated for human consumption (chemicals), how storage containers are cleaned (more chemicals), and how airlines are testing out new methods (like ozone treatments).
Videos by TravelAwaits
In short, although many groups are critical of how airplane water is treated and its final composition, millions of people drink airplane water, tea, and coffee every day. They don’t get sick. Neither do pilots, who also tend to drink a lot of airplane coffee.
Though the water isn’t the purest by any stretch, it’s not likely to make you sick.
But, just how nasty is the water? One recent Airline Water Study from the Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity dug deep into the composition of drinking water at major US airlines. The results? Let’s just say they made me happy to fly Delta.
Drinking water findings from major US airlines
The study looks at 10 major airlines (and eleven smaller airlines) based on water quality from a three-year period (2022-2025). The study took into consideration five factors, including things like E. coli levels, public notices against the airline, and flushing frequency. (Flushing is talking about an airplane’s water tanks, not the toilets.)
The results were analyzed by Charles Platkin, PhD, JK, MPH, and then airlines were given a weighted score out of five. The results were studied against the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR), a 2011 ruling that provided metrics for airlines to meet in terms of onboard drinking water systems. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for managing and enforcing the ADWR.
Ready to see which legacy airlines came out ahead? Here are the results.
- Delta Air Lines: 5.00 (Grade A)
- Frontier Airlines: 4.80 (Grade A)
- Alaska Airlines: 3.85 (Grade B)
- Allegiant Air: 3.65 (Grade B)
- Southwest Airlines: 3.30 (Grade C)
- Hawaiian Airlines: 3.15 (Grade C)
- United Airlines: 2.70 (Grade C)
- Spirit Airlines: 2.05 (Grade D)
- JetBlue: 1.80 (Grade D)
- American Airlines: 1.75 (Grade D)
