Water supply system with cross-feed link and aircraft having a water supply system

A water supply system for a plurality of water consumer units in an aircraft, the system comprising:

• a main tank configured to store a main supply of water;
• a main water pipe connected to an outlet of the main tank;
• and
• a plurality of water networks, each configured to conduct water from the main tank to at least one of the plurality of water consumer units,
• wherein the plurality of water consumer units is partitioned in a first group of water consumer units and at least a second group of water consumer units, wherein each of the plurality of water networks comprises a conveying device configured to convey water to each water consumer unit of one of the groups of water consumer units,
• a cross-feed valve configured to fluidically connect or separate the plurality of water networks downstream of the conveying devices in the plurality of water networks, and
• a controller configured to control the plurality of conveying devices and the cross-feed valve;
• wherein the controller is further configured to:
• close the cross-feed valve and operate each of the plurality of conveying devices in a normal mode, in which each of the plurality of conveying devices conveys an amount of water currently required by the respective water network,
• open the cross-feed valve and operate one of the plurality of conveying devices, to convey water to each of the water networks,
• open the cross-feed valve and operate each of the plurality of conveying devices at a maximum conveying power, when a maximum water supply requirement is determined at one of the plurality of water consumer units,
• open the cross-feed valve and operate at least one of the plurality of conveying devices, in order to perform a cross-check of sensors in the water networks, and
• close the cross-feed valve, if a leakage is determined in one of the water networks.