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 . <EOS>