Water that is safe to drink and safe to use in food handling, handwashing and cleaning.
Potable water is water that is safe to drink and safe to use in food handling, handwashing, and cleaning and sanitising. In Australia it generally means water meeting the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, most often supplied by town mains.
Yes. Standard 3.2.3 requires an adequate supply of water, and where potable water is needed it must be used. Hand basins must be supplied with warm running potable water so food handlers can wash their hands effectively.
Only if it is safe for the intended food use. Businesses using tank or bore water must manage the risk, which may involve treatment, testing or restricting its use. If the water cannot be assured as potable, it should not contact food or hands.
Follow the local authority's advice. This usually means using boiled, treated or bottled water for drinking, food preparation, ice and handwashing until the alert is lifted, to avoid contaminating food with unsafe water.
Warm running potable water helps handwashing work: it makes soap more effective at lifting soil and bacteria, and it ensures the water itself is safe. The Code specifies warm running potable water at hand basins for this reason.