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Board told TOSHA requires bottled water at some convenience centers; staff weighing interim and long-term fixes
Summary
A TOSHA representative told county staff they must provide bottled water in a refrigerator for convenience-center employees at some locations; staff said they will supply bottled water as an interim measure while pursuing installation of water fountains or a hydrant and will coordinate funding and logistics with county finance.
Cindy Lynch told the board that a new TOSHA representative and assistant have raised a formal concern that employees at certain convenience centers — notably the 109 and Martha locations — are not being furnished bottled water in a refrigerator as TOSHA expects. "They're telling me that if I don't furnish our employees bottled water and put it in a refrigerator form, then they're gonna shut us down," Lynch said.
Lynch described practical and cost considerations. She said she has a water spigot and supplies soap, towels and basic kitchen appliances at the centers, but TOSHA is pressing for bottled water stored in refrigeration. She gave two cost examples discussed at the meeting: a Culligan monthly service estimated at "about 200 and something dollars" for jugs, cups and fuel surcharges to travel to multiple towns, and single water-fountain units priced at about $169 that Lynch said "don't drain" and could freeze and break over winter. As an interim measure she ordered a small hydrant to tee into the water line but said TOSHA required bottled water until fixtures are installed.
Board members and staff discussed logistical issues: refrigerators filled with bottles can be removed by employees, and running internal plumbing into older buildings can be complicated by outside water lines and freeze risk. The Chair advised Lynch to procure bottled water now while she pursues interior fountains or plumbing and suggested she check with county finance on the appropriate line item to charge.
No regulatory citation beyond "TOSHA" was provided during the meeting. Lynch said she would seek a couple of weeks to install fixtures and asked the board where to charge the interim water purchases; the Chair directed her to contact Aaron for budget guidance. The board approved the solid waste report that includes this item and asked staff to proceed with interim bottled water provision while pursuing longer-term fixes.
