Aircraft Drinking Water Rule

On this page:

• Rule Summary
• Rule History
• Additional Resources
• Compliance

Rule Summary

The primary purpose of the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) is to ensure that safe and reliable drinking water is provided to aircraft passengers and crew.

Both the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) were designed for stationary public water systems. Using a collaborative rulemaking process, EPA developed ADWR to address aircraft public water systems. The ADWR establishes barriers of protection from disease-causing organisms targeted to the air carrier industry.

Drinking water safety on airlines is jointly regulated by:

• EPA,
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
• and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

EPA regulates systems that supply water to airports and onboard aircraft. FDA regulates water used in food and drink preparation and water supply lines for the aircraft.  FAA oversees airline operation and maintenance programs, including the potable water system.

The regulatory structure for all public water systems, including aircraft, relies upon self-monitoring and reporting of results to the primacy agency. The primacy agency for aircraft public water systems is EPA.

Quick Reference Guide:

Aircraft Drinking Water Rule: A Quick Reference Guide (PDF)(2 pp, 124 K, About PDF) EPA 816-F-10-077, October 2010 
This guide provides an overview of the ADWR, major provisions, critical deadlines and requirements, and public health benefits.

Rule History

In 2004, EPA found all aircraft PWSs to be out of compliance with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs). The existing NPDWRs were designed for traditional, stationary public water systems, not mobile aircraft water systems that are operationally very different. 

For example:

• aircraft must maintain rigorous operating schedules
• they fly to multiple destinations throughout the course of any given day and may board drinking water at any of these destinations.
• aircraft board water from airport watering points via temporary connections
• aircraft drinking water safety depends on a number of factors including:
• the quality of the water that is boarded from these multiple sources,
• the care used to board the water and
• the operation and maintenance of the onboard water system and the water transfer equipment (such as water cabinets, trucks, carts and hoses).

These unique operational characteristics presented different challenges. Thus, prior to publication of the ADWR, EPA placed 45 air carriers under Administrative Orders on Consent (AOCs). Air carriers remained subject to NPDWRs or existing AOCs, where applicable, until ADWR became effective on October 19, 2011.

Proposed Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (April 9, 2008)

• National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Drinking Water Regulations for Aircraft Public Water Systems Proposed Rule (PDF)(29 pp, 291 K, About PDF)

In developing the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR), EPA used a collaborative process to obtain a broad range of views including the airlines, flight attendants, passengers, pilots, airports, laboratories, public health officials and environmental organizations.

ADWR Public Meetings and Summaries

Additional Resources

ADWR Contacts

The Aircraft Reporting and Compliance System (ARCS) is administered by US EPA Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Drinking Water Protection Division. Please send all questions or comments to [email protected] or contact James Hogan at 202-564-4609.

Regional ADWR Contacts

Enforcement website

Compliance

EPA has developed guidance documents and a National Database System to help air carriers comply with ADWR. 

Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) training Materials

ADWR Memos

• Five Year Self-Inspection Requirements under ADWR Memo (PDF)(2 pp, 324 K, April 18, 2017, About PDF) This memo provides clarification on the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) requirements for five year self-inspections. EPA updated ARCS to fully reflect the requirements identified in 141.806(c), 141.808(c ), and 141.810 (e), which require air carriers to report a self-inspection to EPA within 90 days, including deficiencies and if those were addressed.

• ​Aircraft Drinking Water Rule: Moving aircraft into a "Pending Bin" in the Aircraft Reporting and Compliance System due to bankruptcy or other changes in operations (PDF)(4 pp, 2.15 MB, August 25, 2015, About PDF) This memo provides a nationally consistent process to assist Regions in determining whether an aircraft in EPA's Aircraft Reporting and Compliance System (ARCS), which appears abandoned or not in use, should be moved into a "Pending Bin." This memo also provides guidance on actions that should be taken to address potential violations associated with these aircraft.

Aircraft Drinking Water Fact Sheets

• Final Aircraft Drinking Water Rule Fact Sheet (TXT) (8 pp, 49 K) EPA-816-F09-011, October 2009. This fact sheet provides information on the basic requirements, the public health and environmental benefits, and estimated costs associated with the rule.

ADWR Guidance Manual

• Guidance Manual for the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) - Interim Final (PDF)(175 pp, 4 MB, About PDF) EPA 816-R-10-020, October 2010.
  This guidance manual will assist air carriers that are subject to the ADWR with implementation of the rule’s provisions.

Aircraft Reporting and Compliance System (ARCS) Reporting

US EPA has developed the Aircraft Reporting and Compliance System (ARCS) to facilitate the reporting of aircraft public water system (PWS) data. This is a requirement pursuant to the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) [40 CFR Part 141 Subpart X].  ARCS is a centralized web-based data collection and management system that provides accountability and regulatory oversight.

Air carriers subject to the ADWR must report to EPA and conduct, as appropriate, the following requirements in ARCS, unless an alternative reporting method has been approved:

• A complete inventory of aircraft PWS fleet;
• The date the Operations and Maintenance plan was developed;
• The date the Coliform Sampling plan was developed;
• The date the aircraft PWS Sampling plan(s) was incorporated into the aircraft water system Operations and Maintenance plan;
• The date the Operations and Maintenance plan(s) was incorporated into FAA- accepted air carrier Operation and Maintenance program;
• The frequency for routine disinfection and flushing, and the corresponding routine total coliform sampling frequency; and 
• The date for routine disinfection and flushing, routine coliform sampling dates and results, and corrective actions (when applicable).

How to submit data

To enter, transmit, and manage aircraft PWS data, air carriers and US EPA Regions must request a UserID and password by completing the following:

Access to ARCS (electronic process)

• Go to the Aircraft Reporting and Compliance System from any web browser
• Click on [Request User Account]
• Specify your Role (i.e., Primary, Secondary, Laboratory, or US EPA Region)
  • As prompted, input your contact information and other relevant information; download a step guide to walk you through this process.

ADWR Compliance Reports

Using the ADWR Compliance Reports, the public can access aircraft inventory information, drinking water sample results, drinking water system disinfecting operations, as well as public notification and violation information.