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Drinking Water Requirements for States and Public Water Systems

Aircraft Drinking Water Rule

On this page:

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.

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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)

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

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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 adwr_admin@epa.gov or contact James Hogan at 202-564-4609 .

Regional ADWR Contacts

Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) - Regional Contacts
Region State Staff | Phone Email Office
1 Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont

Gevon Solomon
617-918-1513

solomon.gevon@epa.gov Drinking Water Quality & Protection Section

2

New Jersey
New York
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands

Evangelia Palagian
212-637-4246

Mark Rasso
212-637-3839

palagian.evangelia@epa.gov


rasso.mark@epa.gov

Enforcement Section


Drinking Water & Ground Water Protection Section

3

Delaware
DC
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia

Leah Zedella

Pepe Sassin
410-305-3021

zedella.leah@epa.gov

sassin.pepa@epa.gov


Ground Water & Enforcement Branch

Office of Analytical Services and Quality Assurance 

4

Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee

Janine Morris
404-562-9480

Amanda Driskell
404-562-9735

Pamela Riley
404-562-9419

Araceli Chavez
404-562-9790

morris.janine@epa.gov

driskell.amanda@epa.gov

riley.pamela@epa.gov

chavez.araceli@epa.gov

Drinking Water Section


Drinking Water Section - Enforcement


Drinking Water Section

Drinking Water Section - Enforcement

5

Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Ohio
Wisconsin

Kevin Gaughan
312-886-4069

Dorothy Wormbly
312-886-9736

gaughan.kevin@epa.gov


wormbly.dorothy@epa.gov

Ground Water and Drinking Water Branch


Ground Water and Drinking Water Branch -Enforcement

6

Arkansas
Louisiana
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Texas

Jatin Mistry
214-665-7483

Tonia Biggs
214-665-8551

mistry.jatin@epa.gov


biggs.tonia@epa.gov

Drinking Water Section


Enforcement Division

7

Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska

Jay Hua
913-551-7748

Scott Marquess
913-551-7131

hua.jay@epa.gov

marquess.scott@epa.gov

Drinking Water Management Branch

Water Enforcement Branch

8

Colorado
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
Wyoming

Nara Jirik
303-312-6789
 

jirik.nara@epa.gov

Drinking Water Program

9

Arizona
California
Hawaii
Nevada
American Samoa
Guam

Jake Jenzen
415-972-3570

Nnana Edmund
415-972-3996

jenzen.jacob@epa.gov

edmund.nnanna@epa.gov

Drinking Water Office 

10

Alaska
Idaho
Oregon
Washington

Adam Baron
206-553-6361

baron.adam@epa.gov

Drinking Water Unit

HQ  

James Hogan
202-564-4609

Deborah Vacs Renwick
202-564-5248

hogan.james@epa.gov

vacsrenwick.deborah@epa.gov

Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water - Protection Branch 

HQ   Roger Howard
202-564-9907
howard.roger@epa.gov Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water -Infrastructure Branch
HQ  

Ken Harmon
202-564-7049

Dane Wilson
202-564-0544

harmon.kenneth@epa.gov

wilson.dane@epa.gov

Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance - Monitoring Assistance and Media Programs Division

Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance - Water Enforcement Division

Enforcement website

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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 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

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.

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