A method for operating an on-board water supply and distribution system of an aircraft for supplying water, the system comprising a central water tank, a plurality of consumer assemblies, each consumer assembly comprising a supply device and a buffer tank and each consumer assembly being configured to supply water from the buffer tank via the supply device, a pump having an upstream side and a downstream side and being configured such that it may operate in a supply mode and a reverse mode, a filter device, and a high pressure conduit system, wherein the central water tank is connected to the upstream side of the pump with the filter device being arranged between the central water tank and the upstream side, wherein the high pressure conduit system connects the downstream side with the plurality of consumer assemblies, with the conduit system being configured such that the pump, when operating in the supply mode, is capable of delivering water from the downstream side to the buffer tank of each of the consumer assemblies, wherein, when the pump is operating in the reverse mode, it is capable of conveying water from the downstream side to the upstream side, the method comprising the following steps: operating the pump in the supply mode so that water from the central tank is delivered to at least one of the consumer assemblies in a first time interval wherein the buffer tank of the at least one consumer assembly is filled, and operating the pump in the reverse mode in a second time interval so that water from the buffer tank of the at least one of the consumer assemblies passes through the filter device. a central water tank, a plurality of consumer assemblies, each consumer assembly comprising a supply device and a buffer tank and each consumer assembly being configured to supply water from the buffer tank via the supply device, a pump having an upstream side and a downstream side and being configured such that it may operate in a supply mode and a reverse mode, a filter device, and a high pressure conduit system, wherein the central water tank is connected to the upstream side of the pump with the filter device being arranged between the central water tank and the upstream side, wherein the high pressure conduit system connects the downstream side with the plurality of consumer assemblies, with the conduit system being configured such that the pump, when operating in the supply mode, is capable of delivering water from the downstream side to the buffer tank of each of the consumer assemblies, wherein, when the pump is operating in the reverse mode, it is capable of conveying water from the downstream side to the upstream side, the method comprising the following steps: operating the pump in the supply mode so that water from the central tank is delivered to at least one of the consumer assemblies in a first time interval wherein the buffer tank of the at least one consumer assembly is filled, and operating the pump in the reverse mode in a second time interval so that water from the buffer tank of the at least one of the consumer assemblies passes through the filter device. operating the pump in the supply mode so that water from the central tank is delivered to at least one of the consumer assemblies in a first time interval wherein the buffer tank of the at least one consumer assembly is filled, and operating the pump in the reverse mode in a second time interval so that water from the buffer tank of the at least one of the consumer assemblies passes through the filter device.