1910.141(b)(1): Potable Drinking Water
Employers must provide potable water in all places of employment for drinking, washing, cooking, washing food and utensils, and cleaning food preparation areas and personal service rooms. Portable dispensers must be kept sanitary, closable and equipped with a tap, and open dip containers and common cups are prohibited.
Key takeaways
- 1910.141(b)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 84 times in the last 3 years, in 84 inspections, with $142,136 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: VA (10), PR (9), NY (8).
- Related part: 1910.141(b) Water supply (91 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.141(b)(1) ("Potable water") is one requirement inside 1910.141 Sanitation, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). It includes 6 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(1) Potable water. 84 citations
(i) Potable water shall be provided in all places of employment, for drinking, washing of the person, cooking, washing of foods, washing of cooking or eating utensils, washing of food preparation or processing premises, and personal service rooms. Open (b)(1)(i) 78 citations
(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) Portable drinking water dispensers shall be designed, constructed, and serviced so that sanitary conditions are maintained, shall be capable of being closed, and shall be equipped with a tap. 6 citations
(iv) [Reserved]
(v) Open containers such as barrels, pails, or tanks for drinking water from which the water must be dipped or poured, whether or not they are fitted with a cover, are prohibited.
(vi) A common drinking cup and other common utensils are prohibited.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.141.
Export the list: 84 inspections cited 1910.141(b)(1) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.141(b)(1).
At 4:30 p.m. on August 20, 2024, Employee #1, a mechanic, was working on repairing a backhoe outside the shop. The employee checked out of work around 3:30 p.m. and went home, where he told his spouse he was feeling dizzy and overheated. After taking…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 21 |
Top states: VA (10), PR (9), NY (8), MI (8), GA (7)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| COMPASS GROUP USA, INC. | RUSSELLVILLE, AR | $16,131 |
| TRUSCAPES INDUSTRIES, INC | PALMETTO, FL | $10,046 |
| FOXCONN INDUSTRIAL INTERNET | HOUSTON, TX | $9,931 |
| CHEMTRADE SOLUTIONS LLC | SYRACUSE, NY | $9,679 |
| ALTMAN SPECIALTY PLANT | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $8,275 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.141(b)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.141(b)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.141(b) Water supply 91 citations
- 1910.141(b)(1)(i) 78 citations
- 1910.141(b)(2) Nonpotable water 7 citations
- 1910.141(b)(2)(i) 3 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Where must potable water be provided?
In all places of employment, for drinking, washing of the person, cooking, washing foods and utensils, and personal service rooms.
What are the rules for portable drinking water dispensers?
They must be designed, built and serviced to stay sanitary, be capable of being closed, and have a tap.
Can workers share a drinking cup?
No. A common drinking cup and other common utensils are prohibited.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.141 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-06
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.