Drinking water fountains in institutions receiving from the public (ERP)

Verified 27 May 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The institutions receiving from the public (ERP) able to accommodate 301 people and more must be equipped with drinking water fountains. We're explaining the regulations.

One drinking fountain is a drinking water supply device:

  • Connected to a drinking water system
  • And allowing filling a beverage container (e.g. a flask or a glass)

The institutions receiving from the public (ERP) able to accommodate simultaneously 301 or more people (1re, 2è or 3è categories of ERP) are required to be equipped with publicly accessible drinking water fountains.

Where the establishment is connected to a drinking water system, these fountains must be connected to it.

ERPs can accommodate between 301 and 600 people shall be equipped withat least 1 drinking water fountain.

Over 600 people, the number of drinking water fountains is increased by 1 fountain per additional 300 persons.

As an illustration, the table below details the number of mandatory drinking water fountains for ERPs that can accommodate up to 1,800 people:

Tableau - Minimum number of drinking water fountains that an ERP must be equipped with according to its capacity

Number of people who can be accommodated in the LES

Number of minimum drinking water fountains to be settled in the ERP

0 - 300

0

301 - 600

1

601 - 900

2

901 - 1,200

3

1 201 - 1 500

4

1 501 - 1 800

5

Example :

An ERP that can accommodate up to 3,596 people must have at least 11 drinking water fountains.

Drinking water fountains subject to the obligation are indicated by a visible signage (e.g. a display) and access is free of charge.

Where this is an obligation, failure to make drinking water fountains available to the public shall be punishable by a fine of €1,500 (natural persons) or €7,500 (legal persons).

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