A380 water from the hold "triple filtered" in J
Jun 9, 2016, 11:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: +61
Programs: SQ*PPS, QF-WP1 & LTG, VA-Gold, Marriott*LTT, Hilton*Gold, Accor*Platinum
Posts: 5,735
A380 water from the hold "triple filtered" in J
Flew US-Australia in J on the beloved 'roo.
Noticed in the galley they had stainless steel pitchers instead of water bottles.
Asked if it it was bottled the FA said "it's triple filtered" (i.e., from the hold). I asked when the water hold was last sanitised and did not receive a response.
Asked for bottled water - eventually she relented and I got two bottles from Y.
Is non-bottled water now common practice in QF international J? Is that hold water actually safe to drink given the "triple filtering"?
I also did notice in the crew areas a bunch of 1.5L water bottles half drunk - I would NEVER insinuate that they were taking pax water for themselves... But was weird that it was all the same brand.
Noticed in the galley they had stainless steel pitchers instead of water bottles.
Asked if it it was bottled the FA said "it's triple filtered" (i.e., from the hold). I asked when the water hold was last sanitised and did not receive a response.
Asked for bottled water - eventually she relented and I got two bottles from Y.
Is non-bottled water now common practice in QF international J? Is that hold water actually safe to drink given the "triple filtering"?
I also did notice in the crew areas a bunch of 1.5L water bottles half drunk - I would NEVER insinuate that they were taking pax water for themselves... But was weird that it was all the same brand.
Jun 9, 2016, 11:39 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Plat, IHG Plat Amb, LCAH Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,846
Flew US-Australia in J on the beloved 'roo.
Noticed in the galley they had stainless steel pitchers instead of water bottles.
Asked if it it was bottled the FA said "it's triple filtered" (i.e., from the hold). I asked when the water hold was last sanitised and did not receive a response.
Asked for bottled water - eventually she relented and I got two bottles from Y.
Is non-bottled water now common practice in QF international J? Is that hold water actually safe to drink given the "triple filtering"?
Noticed in the galley they had stainless steel pitchers instead of water bottles.
Asked if it it was bottled the FA said "it's triple filtered" (i.e., from the hold). I asked when the water hold was last sanitised and did not receive a response.
Asked for bottled water - eventually she relented and I got two bottles from Y.
Is non-bottled water now common practice in QF international J? Is that hold water actually safe to drink given the "triple filtering"?
Business and Premium Economy passengers have been served from the aircraft 'potable water' supply for about six months now.
https://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetal...um-passengers/
The crew have their own supply.
Jun 10, 2016, 12:28 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QF Gold LTG (ow Saph), HHon Silver, Marriot Gold
Posts: 2,927
What about the dams?
Do you think Qantas would be serving it if it wasnt safe?
Jun 10, 2016, 5:47 am
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wellington
Programs: QFWP (LTSG), NZ (Jade), TG ROP (Forgotten), OZ (Silver), AA (Cardboard), EK (Lowest of the Low)
Posts: 4,669
Not stainless steel pitchers but silver which is anti-bacterial.
US National Library of Medicines
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The antibacterial activity of silver has long been known and has found a variety of applications because its toxicity to human cells is considerably lower than to bacteria. The most widely documented uses are prophylactic treatment of burns and water disinfection. However, the mechanisms by which silver kills cells are not known. Information on resistance mechanisms is apparently contradictory and even the chemistry of Ag+ in such systems is poorly understood.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Jun 10, 2016, 8:54 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,530
Just 'coz the water is in a plastic bottle doesn't mean it's any different to water that comes out of a tap - whether in the air or on the ground. Can we please reduce our fanatical want for bottled water.
Jun 11, 2016, 8:56 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 375
At least for US airlines, the EPA requires airlines with potable water to sanitize the water lines at certain intervals. Also for most aircraft built today, the potable water servicing ports are usually not right next to the lavatory servicing ports any more so less risk of cross contamination.
Jun 11, 2016, 10:29 am
#7
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
How comfortable I'd feel would largely depend on the water supply that supplied the tank.
Do QF A380s go anywhere where the mains water supply is dodgy? If not, I wouldn't be too worried - chlorine in mains water supply will probably end up sanitising the tank - assuming that they do clean the tank properly.
However, if it has taken water from a dodgy supply, then I may not feel at all comfortable about it, because I don't think carbon filter removes all the nasties.
Do QF A380s go anywhere where the mains water supply is dodgy? If not, I wouldn't be too worried - chlorine in mains water supply will probably end up sanitising the tank - assuming that they do clean the tank properly.
However, if it has taken water from a dodgy supply, then I may not feel at all comfortable about it, because I don't think carbon filter removes all the nasties.
Jun 11, 2016, 11:11 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,530
380s into SYD, MEL, LAX, DXB, HKG, LHR. I'd expect mains water to be perfectly safe in these places. Even the 744 destinations should have perfectly safe mains water SIN, HKG, TYO, SCL (usually), JNB, YVR, SFO, LAX, JFK.
Jun 11, 2016, 8:31 pm
#10
formerly gemini573
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: LAX, HKG, and BKK
Programs: CX Emerald, WOH Globalist, Marriott Platinum, AA Lifetime Platinum, Virtuoso, Prive, STEPS, STARS
Posts: 2,233
I don't mind having a small amount of the nasties in me. I think it actually helped for my frequent trips to South Asia.
People complain about getting Delhi belly when traveling to South Asia. I've not gotten once and I go frequently...knock on wood.
Jun 11, 2016, 11:27 pm
#13
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Carbon filters improve the taste (that's what is in a lot of personal use filters like Brita filters etc, so I assume the taste is better than what comes straight out of the tank.
Jun 12, 2016, 2:21 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: VS, BA, C, C++, IoT
Posts: 117
These are daft questions. Mains water pipes are constantly re-sanitised by the water regularly flowing through them. Dams have great big industrial purification plants to render their water potable.
On the other hand, airplanes have water tanks; ideal breeding grounds for the likes of Legionella spp.¹ Oh, and regular piped-water levels of chlorine are insufficient to kill Legionella. Whether the on-plane filtration would be sufficient, I have no idea. It would also depend on how thoroughly and regularly the filtration system is maintained.
Shuuy's question about when the potable-water tank had last been sanitised was entirely valid.
¹ (Granted, Legionella rarely infects through being consumed - the infection route is more usually respiratory, but I use that bacterium as a commonly-known example; there are others too that would not be neutralised by drinking-water chlorine.)
On the other hand, airplanes have water tanks; ideal breeding grounds for the likes of Legionella spp.¹ Oh, and regular piped-water levels of chlorine are insufficient to kill Legionella. Whether the on-plane filtration would be sufficient, I have no idea. It would also depend on how thoroughly and regularly the filtration system is maintained.
Shuuy's question about when the potable-water tank had last been sanitised was entirely valid.
¹ (Granted, Legionella rarely infects through being consumed - the infection route is more usually respiratory, but I use that bacterium as a commonly-known example; there are others too that would not be neutralised by drinking-water chlorine.)