40 C.F.R. § 141.805

Current through September 30, 2024

Section 141.805 - Notification to passengers and crew

(a) Air carriers must give public notice for each aircraft in all of the following situations:

(1) Public access to the aircraft water system is restricted in response to a routine, repeat or follow-up total coliform-positive or E. coli-positive sample result in accordance with § 141.803(d) ;

(2) Failure to perform required routine disinfection and flushing or failure to collect required routine samples in accordance with § 141.803(f) ;

(3) Failure to collect the required follow-up samples in response to a sample result that is E. coli-positive in accordance with § 141.803(g) ;

(4) Failure to collect the required repeat samples or failure to collect the required follow-up samples in response to a sample result that is total coliform-positive and E.coli-negative in accordance with § 141.803(g) ;

(5) In accordance with § 141.803(h) , the air carrier becomes aware of an E. coli-positive event resulting from water that has been boarded from a watering point not in accordance with FDA regulations ( 21 CFR part 1240, subpart E), or that does not meet NPDWRs applicable to transient non-community water systems, or that is otherwise determined to be unsafe due to non-compliance with the procedures specified in § 141.804(b)(6) ;

(6) In accordance with § 141.803(i) , the air carrier becomes aware of a non-E.coli-positive event resulting from water that has been boarded from a watering point not in accordance with FDA regulations (21 CFR part 1240, subpart E), or that does not meet NPDWRs applicable to transient non-community water systems, or that is otherwise determined to be unsafe due to non-compliance with the procedures specified in § 141.804(b)(6) .

(7) The Administrator, the carrier, or the crew otherwise determines that notification is necessary to protect public health.

(b)Public notification:

(1) Must be displayed in a conspicuous way when printed or posted;

(2) Must not contain overly technical language or very small print;

(3) Must not be formatted in a way that defeats the purpose of the notice;

(4) Must not contain language that nullifies the purpose of the notice;

(5) Must contain information in the appropriate language(s) regarding the importance of the notice, reflecting a good faith effort to reach the non-English speaking population served, including, where applicable, an easily recognized symbol for non-potable water.

(c) Public notification for paragraph (a)(1) of this section must meet the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section in addition to the following:

(1) Public notification must include a prominently displayed, clear statement in each lavatory indicating that the water is non-potable and should not be used for drinking, food or beverage preparation, hand washing, teeth brushing, or any other consumptive use; and

(2) A prominent notice in the galley directed at the crew which includes:

(i) A clear statement that the water is non-potable and should not be used for drinking, food or beverage preparation, hand washing, teeth brushing, or any other consumptive use;

(ii) A description of the violation or situation triggering the notice, including the contaminant(s) of concern;

(iii) When the violation or situation occurred;

(iv) Any potential adverse health effects from the violation or situation, as appropriate, under paragraph (g) of this section;

(v) The population at risk, including sensitive subpopulations particularly vulnerable if exposed to the contaminant in the drinking water;

(vi) What the air carrier is doing to correct the violation or situation; and

(vii) When the air carrier expects to return the system to unrestricted public access.

(3) If passenger access to the water system is physically prevented through disconnecting or shutting off the water, or the flow of water prevented through the tap(s), or if water is supplied only to lavatory toilets, and not to any lavatory or galley taps, then only the notice specified in paragraph (c)(2) of this section is required.

(4) Air carriers must initiate public notification when restriction of public access is initiated in accordance with § 141.803(d) and must continue until the aircraft water system is returned to unrestricted public access.

(d) Public notification for paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(4), and (a)(6) of this section must meet the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section in addition to the following:

(2) A prominent notice in the galley directed at the crew which includes:

(i) A clear statement that the water is non-potable and should not be used for drinking, food or beverage preparation, hand washing, teeth brushing, or any other consumptive use;

(ii) A clear statement that it is not known whether the water is contaminated because there was a failure to perform required routine disinfection and flushing; or a failure to perform required monitoring; or water was boarded from a watering point not in accordance with FDA regulations, or that does not meet NPDWRs applicable to transient noncommunity water systems, or that is otherwise determined to be unsafe due to noncompliance with the procedures specified in § 141.804(b)(6) ;

(iii) When and where the unsafe water was boarded or when the specific monitoring or disinfection and flushing requirement was not met;

(iv) Any potential adverse health effects from exposure to waterborne pathogens that might be in the water, as appropriate, under paragraph (g) of this section;

(v) The population at risk, including sensitive subpopulations particularly vulnerable if exposed to the contaminant in the drinking water; and

(vi) A statement indicating when the system will be disinfected and flushed and returned to unrestricted public access.

(e) Public notification for paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(5) of this section must meet the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section in addition to the following:

(2) A prominent notice in the galley directed at the crew which includes:

(i) A clear statement that the water is non-potable and should not be used for drinking, food or beverage preparation, hand washing, teeth brushing, or any other consumptive use;

(ii) A clear statement that the water is contaminated and there was a failure to conduct required monitoring; or a clear statement that water is contaminated because water was boarded from a watering point not in accordance with FDA regulations, or that does not meet NPDWRs applicable to transient noncommunity water systems, or that is otherwise determined to be unsafe due to noncompliance with the procedures specified in § 141.804(b)(6) ;

(iii) A description of the contaminant(s) of concern;

(iv) When and where the unsafe water was boarded or when the specific monitoring requirement was not met;

(v) Any potential adverse health effects from the situation, as appropriate, under paragraph (g) of this section;

(vi) The population at risk, including sensitive subpopulations particularly vulnerable if exposed to the contaminant in the drinking water;

(vii) A statement indicating what the air carrier is doing to correct the situation; and

(viii) When the air carrier expects to return the system to unrestricted public access.

(4) Air carriers must initiate public notification when restriction of public access is initiated in accordance with § 141.803(d) and must continue public notification until a complete set of required follow-up samples are total coliform-negative.

(f) Public notification for paragraph (a)(7) of this section must meet the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section in addition to the following:

(1) Notification must be in a form and manner reasonably calculated to reach all passengers and crew while on board the aircraft by using one or more of the following forms of delivery:

(i) Broadcast over public announcement system on aircraft;

(ii) Posting of the notice in conspicuous locations throughout the area served by the water system. These locations would normally be the galleys and in the lavatories of each aircraft requiring posting;

(iii) Hand delivery of the notice to passengers and crew;

(iv) Another delivery method approved in writing by the Administrator.

(2) Air carriers must initiate public notification within 24 hours of being informed by EPA to perform notification and must continue notification for the duration determined by EPA.

(g) In each public notice to the crew, air carriers must use the following standard health effects language that corresponds to the situations in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(6) of this section.

(1) Health effects language to be used when public notice is initiated due to the detection of total coliforms only (not E. coli) in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section:

Coliform are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in [INSERT NUMBER OF SAMPLES DETECTED] samples collected and this is a warning of potential problems. If human pathogens are present, they can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

(2) Health effects language to be used when public notice is initiated due to any E. coli-positive routine, repeat, or follow-up sample in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section:

E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

(3) Health effects language to be used when public notice is initiated due to a failure to conduct routine monitoring or routine disinfection and flushing in accordance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section; or when there is a failure to conduct repeat or follow-up sampling in accordance with paragraph (a)(4) of this section; or in accordance with paragraph (a)(6) of this section, when the air carrier becomes aware of a non-E. coli-positive event that is the result of water that was boarded from a watering point not in accordance with FDA regulations ( 21 CFR part 1240, subpart E), or that does not meet NPDWRs applicable to transient non-community water systems, or that is otherwise determined to be unsafe due to non-compliance with the procedures specified in § 141.804(b)(6) :

Because [REQUIRED MONITORING AND ANALYSIS WAS NOT CONDUCTED], [REQUIRED DISINFECTION AND FLUSHING WAS NOT CONDUCTED] [WATER WAS BOARDED FROM A WATERING POINT NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH FDA REGULATIONS (21 CR 1240 SUBPART E)], or [OTHER APPROPRIATE EXPLANATION], we cannot be sure of the quality of the drinking water at this time. However, drinking water contaminated with human pathogens can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

(4) Health effects language to be used when public notice is initiated due to a failure to conduct required follow-up monitoring in response to a sample result that is E. coli-positive in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section; or in accordance with paragraph (a)(5) of this section, when the air carrier becomes aware of an E. coli-positive event that is the result of water that was boarded from a watering point not in accordance with FDA regulations (21 CFR part 1240, subpart E), or that does not meet NPDWRs applicable to transient non-community water systems, or that is otherwise determined to be unsafe due to non-compliance with the procedures specified in § 141.804(b)(6) :

Because required follow-up monitoring and analysis was not conducted after the aircraft water system tested positive for E. coli, we cannot be sure of the quality of the drinking water at this time. E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

Water was boarded that is contaminated with E. coli because [WATER WAS BOARDED FROM A WATERING POINT NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH FDA REGULATIONS (21 CR 1240 SUBPART E)], or [OTHER APPROPRIATE EXPLANATION]. E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

40 C.F.R. §141.805