Do you remember wanting to stay hydrated during a flight? With an increase in altitude and low moisture levels, it is logical to become dehydrated. The probable solution is to want some water during a flight.

Sources have recently revealed some aviation industry secrets, stating that cabin crew members would not drink tap water in mid-flight. They would also probably not drink plain tea or even plain coffee, and the reasons are apparent: tap water.

Why avoid tap water? It is said that tap water is the worst beverage on a plane you can ask for, stick to bottled water. The concerns regarding tap water are attributed to the water tanks not being cleaned regularly; hence cabin crew members stay away from tap water.

This claim is supported by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA in the U.S., which states that the assurance of safe drinking water on the aircraft is regulated under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA is said to have pressed for this regulation nearly 15 years ago.

Meanwhile, AFA is said to believe that this regulation is not adequately enforced. The rule includes broad discretion for airlines on how often they would need to test the water and flush the tanks.

A recent EPA study has found that 12% (or one out of every 10) of commercial planes in the U.S. with one positive test for coliform, a bacteria that is found in human faeces. So, the next time you see tap water as a ray of hope on a long-haul flight, think again.