Only potable water shall be provided for drinking and culinary purposes by any operator of a conveyance engaged in interstate traffic, except as provided in § 1250.84(b) of this chapter. Such water shall either have been obtained from watering points approved by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, or, if treated aboard a conveyance, shall have been subjected to treatment approved by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

(a) The Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall approve any watering point if (1) the water supply threat meets the standards prescribed in the Environmental Protection Agency's Primary Drinking Water Regulations as set forth in 40 CFR part 141, and (2) the methods of and facilities for delivery of such water to the conveyance and the sanitary conditions surrounding such delivery prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases.

(b) The Commissioner of Food and Drugs may base his approval or disapproval of a watering point upon investigations made by representatives of State departments of health or of the health authorities of contiguous foreign nations.

(c) If a watering point has not been approved, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs may permit its temporary use under such conditions as, in his judgment, are necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases.

(d) Upon request of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, operators of conveyances shall provide information as to watering points used by them.

No vessel engaged in interstate traffic shall make a connection between its nonpotable water system and any pier potable water system unless provisions are made to prevent backflow from the vessel to the pier.

(a) The treatment of water aboard conveyances shall be approved by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs if the apparatus used is of such design and is so operated as to be capable of producing and in fact does produce, potable water.

(b) The Commissioner of Food and Drugs may base his approval or disapproval of the treatment of water upon investigations made by representatives of State departments of health or of the health authorities of contiguous foreign nations.

(c) Overboard water treated on vessels shall be from areas relatively free of contamination and pollution.

No vessel engaged in interstate traffic shall obtain water for drinking and culinary purposes from any water boat unless the tanks, piping, and other appurtenances used by the water boat in the loading, transportation, and delivery of such drinking and culinary water, have been approved by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.