What does the free water rule require?
Every licensed food establishment with customer seating must provide free potable drinking water. You can still sell bottled water — but you cannot make it the only option, hide the dispenser, or train staff to deflect requests. The rule is explicit in the compliance order hub under §5.
What is the mandatory bilingual sign text? (§5(E))
Display a legible, illuminated signboard in Marathi and English at the entrance and in the customer seating area. Copy must match the order — paraphrasing is risky during enforcement drives.
Minimum practical spec: A3 or larger, backlit or spot-lit, mounted at eye level. Laminated paper is a stopgap — invest in acrylic or LED board within the first week.
What water system do you need? (RO, UV, municipal)
| Supply type | What inspectors expect | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal piped water | Documented potability or periodic lab test | Corporation bill + latest NABL report |
| Borewell / tanker | RO/UV purification operational | RO service log + 6-monthly NABL test |
| Packaged water only (non-compliant) | Not acceptable as sole source | — |
| Overhead tank | Quarterly cleaning log | Tank cleaning dates + vendor invoice |
- RO/UV system (§5(B)) — install and service on schedule; dead RO membranes are a common inspection fail.
- 6-monthly lab test (§5(C)) — NABL/FSSAI-notified lab report filed on premises; book before expiry, not after an inspector asks.
- Accessible dispenser — water point visible without asking staff; cups or glasses stocked.
Can you still sell bottled water?
Yes — packaged drinking water remains a legitimate SKU. The prohibition is on forcing purchase: no "we only serve bottled water" policy, no staff scripts that refuse the RO tap, no hiding the free water point behind the counter.
- Remove any old signage that implies paid water is the only option.
- Train floor staff: offer free water first; upsell bottled only if the guest prefers it.
- Aggregator listings: do not state "water not available" for dine-in venues.
Where do inspectors look — and what fails?
- Entrance sign — both languages, illuminated, readable from 3 metres.
- Seating area sign — second copy inside the hall; not just at the door.
- Working RO/UV — they may ask for a glass; murky or warm water triggers a deeper check.
- Lab report — dated within 6 months; filed with other compliance documents.
- Staff behaviour — mystery-shopper style checks for forced bottled-water sales.
How does this connect to other Order 716 rules?
Water compliance sits alongside RUCO oil rules, FoSTaC and medical fitness, and the full FDA inspection checklist. Fix water first — it is the cheapest item on the list and the most visible to customers.
30-minute compliance sprint
- Print and mount both §5(E) signs tonight — entrance + seating.
- Test the RO output; schedule service if flow or taste is off.
- Locate or book a NABL water test if the last report is >6 months old.
- Brief staff: free water is mandatory; no deflection scripts.
- Run the Inspection Ready audit — it includes sign copy and water-zone checks.