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A report out yesterday by the Los Angeles Times highlights the abysmal conditions of drinking water in the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. The drinking water in the terminal has been contaminated for at least several weeks, and apparently the conditions are so bad that international carriers have to pump in their own water in order to meet their standards.
According to the Times:
According to airport emails obtained by The Times, the water is brown and contains high levels of bacteria and particles of copper, brass and rust. Officials have conducted a review to see if contamination has also surfaced in the water fountains, dining concessions and restrooms used by passengers in the rebuilt terminal. The situation has forced international carriers to secure bottled water or forage for fresh water at other terminals, transport it to their planes in tanker trucks and then pump it into the aircraft — a time-consuming process with the potential for flight delays.
In one case, a Cathay Pacific departure was postponed 41 minutes while the ground crew loaded the plane with bottled water.
Officials have known about the contamination issue since mid-November and are scrambling to find a solution to the problem. An official with LAWA told the Times that the problem is centered on three new gates and a single old gate, though it is not known what particular gates are affected.
For now, it would be a good idea to bring a bottle of water with you if you're going to make an international flight—but make sure it's less than 3.4 ounces.