Running water might not seem like a big deal—until it stops working. Whether it’s due to a burst pipe, utility maintenance, or another emergency, losing access to water can quickly bring your business operations to a halt. You might wonder, can a business stay open without running water? The short answer is mostly no, especially if your business needs water for cleaning, food handling, or employee restrooms.
In this article, you’ll learn when it’s legal to operate without running water, what OSHA requires, what temporary measures you can take, and how to plan for emergencies.
Why Running Water Is So Important for a Business
Water is a basic necessity for both employees and customers. It’s used for drinking, cleaning, cooking, restrooms, and maintaining hygiene. Without it, most workplaces become unsafe or noncompliant with labor and health regulations.
For example, you can’t ask your staff to work without access to toilets or drinking water. Similarly, food service businesses can’t safely prepare meals without washing hands, utensils, or equipment. Even offices, which may not seem heavily dependent on water, still need functioning restrooms and handwashing facilities.
So while it might seem manageable to operate without water for a few hours, it can quickly become a legal issue if the problem lasts longer.
Legal and OSHA Requirements for Water Access
Under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, all employers are legally required to provide their workers with potable (safe, drinkable) water and sanitary facilities.
This rule is meant to protect employee welfare and public health. Here’s what the law says in simple terms:
- Drinking water: You must supply employees with safe, drinkable water.
- Restrooms: You must provide access to functioning toilets and handwashing facilities.
- Sanitation: You must maintain hygiene standards to prevent illness and contamination.
If your business lacks running water, you could violate OSHA standards. That can result in fines or even forced closure until the issue is fixed.
Can a Business Stay Open Without Running Water Temporarily?
Sometimes, water outages happen without warning. A construction accident, broken pipe, or water company maintenance can leave your building without running water for several hours.
So, can your business stay open without running water temporarily? It depends on the situation and type of business.
Short-Term Outages
If the loss of water is expected to last only a few hours and doesn’t create health risks, you may continue operating as long as temporary alternatives are provided. For instance:
- Offering bottled water for drinking
- Renting portable toilets or sinks
- Informing employees and limiting tasks that require water
However, if your operations involve food handling, healthcare, or sanitation-sensitive work, you may still have to close until water service is restored.
Long-Term or Ongoing Outages
If your business will be without running water for more than a day, OSHA and local health departments may require you to close temporarily. Extended outages violate sanitation laws, especially if employees don’t have restrooms or handwashing options.
Businesses must provide toiletry and hygiene facilities—even if through alternatives like portaloos or hand-sanitizing stations—to legally stay open during maintenance or repairs.
Industries Most Affected by Water Outages
The impact of a water outage varies depending on the nature of your business.
1. Food Service Businesses
Restaurants, cafes, and catering services are the first to be affected. Running water is essential for:
- Washing hands, dishes, and cooking utensils
- Preparing food safely
- Cleaning dining areas
Health codes strictly prohibit operating without water because of the risk of food contamination. Even a short outage can lead to violations, fines, or closure by the health department.
2. Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals, clinics, dental offices, and veterinary centers are sensitive sites that depend on running water for sterilization, cleaning wounds, and patient care. These facilities must close or switch to emergency systems during outages.
Many healthcare providers have contingency plans and backup water tanks for emergencies.
3. Office Buildings
Offices are less water-dependent but still need running water for drinking and restrooms. If the outage lasts only a few hours, you can likely stay open by supplying bottled water and portable toilets.
However, long-term lack of water can make the space legally “uninhabitable,” forcing closure until the problem is fixed.
4. Construction and Manufacturing Sites
Workers on construction sites need water for cleaning equipment, mixing materials, and maintaining hygiene. OSHA requires these sites to have potable water and toilets. If water is unavailable, operations may need to pause.
Do Employers Have to Provide Running Water?
Yes. Employers must provide drinkable water and restroom facilities. However, the law doesn’t say this water must always come from plumbing.
If your building’s plumbing isn’t working, you can still stay compliant by offering alternatives such as:
- Bottled water for drinking
- Portable sinks for handwashing
- Portable toilets for restroom use
Still, these are meant as short-term solutions. Running water remains the most reliable and cost-effective option in the long run.
What Happens if There’s No Running Water at Work?
If your workplace suddenly loses running water, here’s what you should do:
- Identify the cause: Check if it’s a citywide outage, maintenance work, or internal plumbing issue.
- Notify employees: Inform staff about the issue and expected duration.
- Provide alternatives: Supply bottled water and portable restroom options if possible.
- Contact the water supplier or a plumber: Fix the problem immediately if it’s within your property.
- Decide whether to close: If water won’t be restored soon and the alternatives are inadequate, close temporarily to comply with health and safety laws.
Remember, ignoring the issue can result in health code violations, OSHA penalties, or employee complaints.
Emergency and Contingency Planning for Businesses
Every business should have a contingency plan for unexpected water outages. Water disruptions can happen due to natural disasters, infrastructure damage, or utility work.
Here’s how to prepare:
- Set up an emergency water supply: Some companies offer emergency water delivery for businesses.
- Install backup water storage tanks: Ideal for sensitive sites like hospitals or factories.
- Keep portable sanitation kits ready: Stock items like bottled water, hand sanitizers, and wipes.
- Train employees: Make sure everyone knows the emergency plan and hygiene procedures.
- Review your insurance: Check if business interruption insurance covers water-related closures.
With proper preparation, you can reduce downtime and protect both employees and customers.
When Is It Illegal to Operate Without Water?
Operating without water becomes illegal when it violates OSHA, local building codes, or public health laws.
Common examples include:
- Employees have no access to safe drinking water.
- Restrooms are unavailable or unsanitary.
- Food is being prepared or served without hygiene facilities.
- Wastewater cannot be properly managed.
In these cases, authorities can issue warnings, fines, or closure orders until compliance is restored.
What About Landlords and Tenants?
If you rent your commercial space, a lack of running water could make the property “uninhabitable” under state or local housing laws.
According to legal resources like Justia Ask A Lawyer, tenants may not have to pay rent if essential utilities like water are not provided. However, it depends on the lease agreement and cause of the problem.
- If the issue is on the landlord’s side (plumbing failure, unpaid water bill), they must fix it promptly.
- If the tenant caused the problem (accidental damage), they are responsible for repairs and maintaining compliance.
Practical Tips to Handle a Water Outage at Your Business
- Act quickly – Report outages immediately to your water company or property manager.
- Communicate – Inform employees and customers about the situation and expected fix time.
- Use bottled water – Keep extra drinking water on-site for emergencies.
- Rent portable toilets – Contact local suppliers for temporary restrooms if needed.
- Post signs – Let visitors know about temporary measures to maintain transparency.
- Document everything – Keep records of the outage, repairs, and any temporary solutions used.
Being proactive shows responsibility and can help protect you from legal or reputational damage.
The Bottom Line: Can a Business Stay Open Without Running Water?
So, can a business stay open without running water? Usually not for long.
While it might be possible to continue for a short period using bottled water or portable toilets, running water is essential for meeting health, safety, and sanitation standards. Without it, your business risks breaking OSHA rules, losing customer trust, and endangering employee welfare.
If you experience a water outage, take it seriously. Focus on employee safety first, provide temporary solutions where possible, and close operations if necessary until water service is restored. In most cases, it’s better to pause work briefly than to risk legal penalties or health hazards.
In summary:
- OSHA requires employers to provide safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.
- Businesses like restaurants, hospitals, and clinics must have running water to stay open.
- Offices and other non-sensitive sites can use short-term alternatives but only temporarily.
- Long-term outages require immediate repair or closure.
- Always plan ahead with an emergency water supply or contingency plan.
Water might not seem like a big deal day-to-day, but when it stops flowing, the law, safety, and practicality all make one thing clear — a business cannot stay open without running water for long.