What is the rules about access to drinking water at work

od244051

I work in a shop. The plumbed water dispenser in the staff area is broken for 2 days and awaiting a part, which will take another week and the drinking tap in the female toilets has had a sign on it "do not use" for months. There's only a plumbed in hot water urn and a drinking water tap in the male toilets. There's also a hot drinks vending machine which is free.

I know my employer are supposed to provide drinking water. Is this acceptable?

 

Diamandis

Yes, they're meant to provide drinking water but this is a temporary issue, are you able to fill a couple of bottles with tap water and take it into work for one week? 

KatrinaWaves

Can you not take a refillable bottle or cup and just ask a male colleague to fill up for you temporarily.

mountain out of molehill here. 

bradders1983

od244051 said:

 There's also a hot drinks vending machine which is free.


 

Does this machine not have a "water only" option?

od244051

bradders1983 said:

od244051 said:

 There's also a hot drinks vending machine which is free.


 

Does this machine not have a "water only" option?

No, it doesn’t.

Undervalued

Unless there are other real issues with this employer, in the current climate I really wouldn't rock the boat!

Take a bottle from home or make use of the free hot drinks. They are something the employer is not obliged to provide and I bet you wouldn't be popular with the other staff if you come in one day to find the machine removed and replaced with a cold tap!

TBagpuss

Is there any reason why you can't simply access the cold water tap in the mens bathroom, as a temporary measure? 
It would be reasonable to suggest that this is stated explicitly, if it hasn't been.

Employers do have a duty to provide an adequate supply of drinking water but unless they have explicitly forbidden you from accessing the available tap then they are meeting that requirements.  If you are uncomfortable about using that tap then you could ask a male colleague to fill up a bottle for you, or even suggest to your manager that they fill up some large large bottles or jugs so that these are available in the staff area. Or just bring in a bottle from home. 

k12479

od244051 said:

...the drinking tap in the female toilets.....and a drinking water tap in the male toilets.

Sounds very hygienic.

[Deleted User]

k12479 said:

od244051 said:

...the drinking tap in the female toilets.....and a drinking water tap in the male toilets.

Sounds very hygienic.

Exactly - I wouldn't want someone touching the germ laden door and tap handles, and then filling my water bottle for me. I would bring in my own water.

Undervalued

[Deleted User] said:

k12479 said:

od244051 said:

...the drinking tap in the female toilets.....and a drinking water tap in the male toilets.

Sounds very hygienic.

Exactly - I wouldn't want someone touching the germ laden door and tap handles, and then filling my water bottle for me. I would bring in my own water.

As opposed to the average works tea room sink which, as we know, are always so spotless!

MalMonroe

Your employer should provide an alternative source of water, it's the law. It's in this link https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg293.PDF

Show the attached to your employer. He/she could be in trouble if they don't comply.