We have a water cooler at work and our boss wanted to cut down on expenses by cutting our water supply

Question

She only would order when the day comes when we ran out of water and its been two days and we still do not have water?. The sink water taste rusty and none of my co-workers will drink it. Are we suppose to bring water from home????. What should I tell my boss?

Answer 1

Tell your boss you know this was a hard decision to make and thank her for not cutting your job or wages.  Then bring you own water from home.

Answer 2

Supply your own water, it's not the end of the world.  I bring my own if I don't want to drink tap water.

Answer 3

When I worked in an office we pooled the monthly rental and water fees together to pay for the water cooler ourselves.  If no one wants to do that then just bring our own water.  They have those mini coolers you might be able to just put by your desk.

Answer 4

It is unforunate that your boss will cut off your water supply cooler, most people would say that it is not the end of the world, however, I'm sure other expenses could be looked at more narrowly than the water supply, a happy employee is a productive employee.

Answer 5

"It is the responsibility of your employer, under the regulations of OSHA or your state safety regulations, to furnish you with access to “potable” water for drinking.  How that requirement is met can be by a number of ways as long as the water is safe to drink. Thus water from the bathroom sink is acceptable as long as it is safe by health standards.  If it has rust or sediments it most likely is not safe but if it is clear and does not have a “bad” taste then it may meet the requirements and is acceptable.  It is hard to find much difference between a bathroom sink and kitchen sink as long as the associated plumbing is sound and lacking in contamination.  The following are some excerpts from the federal OSHA regulations that should address the situation:

..... "Potable water" means water that meets the standards for drinking purposes of the state or local authority having jurisdiction or water that meets the quality standards prescribed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations, published in 40 CFR Part 141.

..... Potable drinking water.

1928.110(c)(1)(i) Potable water shall be provided and placed in locations readily accessible to all employees.

1928.110(c)(1)(ii) The water shall be suitably cool and in sufficient amounts, taking into account the air temperature, humidity and the nature of the work performed, to meet the needs of all employees.

1928.110(c)(1)(iii) The water shall be dispensed in single-use drinking cups or by fountains. The use of common drinking cups or dippers is prohibited.

The above are from the section regarding field sanitation but mirror the general industry standards."