1910.141(b): Workplace Water Supply
Employers must provide potable water for drinking, washing, cooking and food areas, with sanitary, closable, tapped dispensers and no open dipping containers or shared cups. Nonpotable water outlets must be clearly marked as unsafe, nonpotable systems must prevent backflow into potable water, and nonpotable water must not be used for washing people, utensils or clothing.
Key takeaways
- 1910.141(b) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart J).
- OSHA cited it 91 times in the last 3 years, in 90 inspections, with $146,336 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)(1) Potable water (84 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.141(b) ("Water supply") is one requirement inside 1910.141 Sanitation, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart J). It includes 11 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
(b) Water supply — 91 citations
(1) Potable water. Open (b)(1) 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.
(2) Nonpotable water. Open (b)(2) 7 citations
(i) Outlets for nonpotable water, such as water for industrial or firefighting purposes, shall be posted or otherwise marked in a manner that will indicate clearly that the water is unsafe and is not to be used for drinking, washing of the person, cooking, washing of food, washing of cooking or eating utensils, washing of food preparation or processing premises, or personal service rooms, or for washing clothes. Open (b)(2)(i) 3 citations
(ii) Construction of nonpotable water systems or systems carrying any other nonpotable substance shall be such as to prevent backflow or backsiphonage into a potable water system.
(iii) Nonpotable water shall not be used for washing any portion of the person, cooking or eating utensils, or clothing. Nonpotable water may be used for cleaning work premises, other than food processing and preparation premises and personal service rooms: Provided, That this nonpotable water does not contain concentrations of chemicals, fecal coliform, or other substances which could create insanitary conditions or be harmful to employees. 4 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.141.
Export the list: 90 inspections cited 1910.141(b) 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).
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 | 30 |
| 2025 | 30 |
| 2026 | 24 |
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), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.141(b).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.141(b)(1) Potable water 84 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
How must nonpotable water outlets be marked?
Posted or otherwise marked to clearly show the water is unsafe and not for drinking, washing, cooking or similar uses.
Can nonpotable water be used for cleaning?
It may be used for cleaning work premises other than food areas and personal service rooms, if it does not contain substances that could create insanitary conditions or be harmful.
Are shared drinking cups allowed?
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.