Cold drinking water - company obligation ?

[CW1]

Hi,
Just wondered, are companies obliged to provide cold drinking water for their employees ?
I work for a large but not well known private company & we have a water cooler. They've just stopped supplying the big blue water bottles saying it's too costly so I've been taking my own in (obviously at my expense). We have separate hot drinking water (as no kettle).
Thanks

[Mamyalynne]

No cold tap in the staff room/canteen??

[excelsior-1]

not certain about rules, however..
last summer we had three water stations at strategic locations throughout the warehouse. they were very useful to me as i do sweat when working hard in the heat.
one day they were removed .. i kicked up a stink, and within two days they were put back

[excelsior-1]

forgot to say.
they were not bottles they were plumbed into the mains

[Prudie]

As long as there is drinking water available from a tap I believe that is all required. The chilled stuff is just a perk.

[CW1]

There is a cold tap, mamyalynne, but water out of a tap isn't usually drinking water - nor cold ! :))
excelsior-1 my manager's picking me up on the slightest thing at the mo' so not really in a position to "kick up a stink" ...

[CW1]

Thanks Prudie. As I thought. Them being tight. Not known a company like it, one way 'n other ... :(

[RATTER15]

CW1, if its a mains water tap it is suitable for drinking and it will get cold if you run it for a while.

[hc4361]

Most water out of a mains tap is suitable for drinking. It will be clearly labelled if it isn't.

[Mamyalynne]

I am excluding washrooms here, but tap water in this country is perfectly drinkable and if the mains system is set up correctly should run cold too. I know mine gets so cold I have to leave it to reach a drinkable temp.

[excelsior-1]

i've been there cw1. my boss had it in for me a short while ago.

you can, however be diplomatic in the way you approach the subject with yours. just ask politely about it

[Prudie]

Try to persuade them to get the leased plumbed in ones. Not that expensive and saves the hassle and environmental pollution of bottles.

[EcclesCake]

As has already been said if you have a tap then i is almost certainly drinking water and if not will be clearly labelled.

This will meet their obligations. Chilled water is desirable not essential.

[Mosaic]

Water is water. Tap water is potable in the UK. Anything else is personal preference.

[mojay]

when I started work, many years ago, the company supplied tea mid-morning and afternoon made by the office junior (me!) and the only time water (from the tap) was needed was to take an aspirin or similar.

[boxtops]

No, there is no obligation. We've never had a water cooler in our office block - it's expensive. If you want water, use the tap, or bring in your own (expensive) bottled water.

[webbo3]

this is from the health and safety and work act 1974.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg293.pdf



Dave.

[joko]

what?!

tap water is not suitable for drinking?

what do you think people did before bottled water?
what do you think most people drink at home?

unbelievable!