Photo: Getty
It may be time to rethinkhow you hydrate in the sky.
A new study has found that many of the U.S.’s most popular airlines do not provide safe drinking water — and itmay actually be making passengers sick.
Study scores of 3 or higher suggest the water on board is safe enough to drink — startlingly, only three of the 11 major airlines sampled achieved this score, along with just one of the 12 regional airlines.
“Alaska Airlines and Allegiant win the top spot with the safest water in the sky, and Hawaiian Airlines finishes No. 2,” said Charles Platkin, PhD, JD, MPH, the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center, in a press release. Alaska Airlines and Allegiant Air both received a 3.3, while Hawaiian Airlines was given a 3.1.
Spirit and JetBlue tied for the lowest score of the major airlines, each receiving a 1 out of 5.
Piedmont Airlines was the highest-rated regional carrier with a score of 4.33, while the lowest score, 0.44, was given to Republic Airways, which operates United Express, Delta Connection and American Eagle flights.
In order to protect yourself from potential pathogens, DietDetective.com and the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center suggest never drinking water served on a plane unless it is bottled and sealed.
This includes coffee or tea served on board.
They also suggest not washing your handsin the aircraft bathroom, and instead bringing along your own hand sanitizer.
RELATED VIDEO: Heidi Klum Teases Nicole Richie for Her Meticulous Pre-Flight Cleaning Routine: ‘She’s Nuts’
“An aircraft flies to numerous destinations and may pump drinking water into its tanks from various sources at domestic and international locations,” according to the study. “The water quality onboard also depends on the safety of the equipment used to transfer the water, such as water cabinets, trucks, carts and hoses.”
Want to see how the water on your favorite airline checked out? Take a look atthe full studyfor all the dirty details.
source: people.com
