Fly the friendly skies (but don't drink the water)
by Guest Blogger, 1/19/2005
File this under "Yuck": the EPA has finished a second round of testing of airline drinking water and found that it's getting worse, not better. EPA found 17.2 percent of 169 randomly selected passenger aircraft carried water contaminated with total coliform bacteria -- up from 12.7 percent in the first round of testing. Although the coliform bacterium is not considered particularly dangerous in and of itself, it can be the sign that other, more harmful pathogens are in the water.
EPA issued this warning to consumers: "Passengers with compromised immune systems or others concerned may want to request canned or bottled beverages and refrain from drinking tea or coffee unless made with bottled water."
