How Much Drinking Water Should Be Available for Factory Employees? Seeking Suggestions!

Dear All, Please provide suggestions for a drinking water tap for employees in a factory. How much water should be made available for drinking?

Hi, it depends on the number of employees. Keep a sufficient number of water cans on all floors, matching the employee count on each floor.

Section 18 of The Factories Act, 1948

18. Drinking water.

(1) In every factory, effective arrangements shall be made to provide and maintain at suitable points conveniently situated for all workers employed therein a sufficient supply of wholesome drinking water.

(2) All such points shall be legibly marked "drinking water" in a language understood by a majority of the workers employed in the factory, and no such point shall be situated within six meters of any washing place, urinal, latrine, spittoon, open drain carrying sullage or effluent, or any other source of contamination unless a shorter distance is approved in writing by the Chief Inspector.

(3) In every factory wherein more than two hundred and fifty workers are ordinarily employed, provision shall be made for cool drinking water during hot weather by effective means and for distribution thereof.

(4) In respect of all factories or any class or description of factories, the State Government may make rules for securing compliance with the provisions of subsections (1), (2), and (3) and for the examination by prescribed authorities of the supply and distribution of drinking water in factories.

You can also refer to the applicable factory act/rules.

Drinking Water Provisions Under The Factories Act, 1948

Section 18 of The Factories Act, 1948, states the following regarding drinking water provisions for workers in factories:

(1) In every factory, effective arrangements shall be made to provide and maintain, at suitable points conveniently situated for all workers employed therein, a sufficient supply of wholesome drinking water.

(2) All such points must be legibly marked as "drinking water" in a language understood by a majority of the workers in the factory. Additionally, these points should not be located within six meters of any washing place, urinal, latrine, spittoon, open drain carrying sullage or effluent, or any other potential source of contamination, unless a shorter distance is approved in writing by the Chief Inspector.

(3) Factories with over two hundred and fifty workers must ensure provision for cool drinking water during hot weather through effective means and distribution.

(4) The State Government holds the authority to establish rules for compliance with the provisions stated in subsections (1), (2), and (3) for all factories or specific classes of factories. These rules may also cover the examination of the supply and distribution of drinking water by designated authorities in factories.