What comes with a portable hand washing station?
A portable hand washing station has two sinks, each with its own foot pump, plus two soap dispensers and paper towels. A 22-gallon tank holds fresh water and a separate 24-gallon tank catches used water. Two people can wash at once, and nobody touches a faucet.
- Two sinks: one on each side, so two people wash at the same time.
- Foot pumps: each step sends about 2 ounces of water. Hands never touch a handle.
- Soap: two dispensers of about 30 ounces each.
- Paper towels: stocked with about 1,000 towels, plus a trash opening.
- Two tanks: clean water stays separate from used water, so nothing drains onto your lawn.
The station is filled with fresh water before it leaves the yard. You do not need a hose or an outlet for the standard model.
How many stations to rent
Our sizing method is 1 station per 2 to 3 toilets when food is served. Use the 350-wash figure to check bigger jobs:
- Backyard party, 75 guests: 1 station covers it.
- Festival, 400 guests: if half the guests wash twice, that is 400 washes. Plan 2 stations.
- Job site, 30 workers: 2 washes a day for 5 days is 300 a week. One station is tight, so plan 2.
Hand-wash station specs: size, water and uses per fill
The hand-wash station is about 62 inches tall, 26.5 inches wide and 21.5 inches deep. The empty station weighs about 70 pounds and holds 22 gallons of fresh water, good for about 350 hand washes. These are manufacturer specs for the PolyJohn Bravo reference model, and your unit may differ slightly.
| Spec | Hand-wash station (reference model: PolyJohn Bravo, 2-station) |
|---|---|
| Height | 62 in |
| Width | 26.5 in |
| Depth | 21.5 in |
| Weight | 70 lb empty, about 254 lb full |
| Fresh water | 22 gal |
| Used (gray) water | 24 gal |
| Uses per fill | About 350 hand washes |
| Soap | Two dispensers, about 30 fl oz each |
| Towels | About 1,000 |
| Hookups | None (heated model needs 110V) |
Sources: PolyJohn Bravo product page and PolyJohn Heated Bravo page.
The heated model has the same shell and tanks. It draws about 1,450 watts, or 13 amps, on a 110V outlet. A GFI-protected circuit is recommended.
Full of water, the station weighs about 254 pounds. That keeps it steady in wind, but it should not be moved once it is set and filled.
When do you need a hand washing station?
A hand washing station belongs anywhere people eat, handle food, work with paint or chemicals, or have kids around. Our sizing method adds 1 station for every 2 to 3 toilets when food is served. OSHA rule 1926.51(f) also calls for washing facilities on many construction jobs.
Best for
- Parties and events with food: plan 1 station per 2 to 3 toilets. A 5-toilet event gets 2 stations. See event porta potty rental for full setups.
- Food vendors: Connecticut health departments permit temporary food stands, and vendors are expected to have hand washing set up. In Shelton, check with the Naugatuck Valley Health District.
- Job sites: crews working with paint, coatings or similar materials need washing facilities close by. Read our OSHA porta potty requirements guide.
- Kids: birthday parties, camps and youth sports.
Not right for
- Freezing weather without power: fresh water can freeze from about November to March.
- Huge crowds on one fill: 350 washes goes fast at a 1,000-person fair. Add stations or a mid-event refill.
Farms with field crews have their own federal rule. Our long-term rental page covers the OSHA farm count of 1 station per 20 workers.
Need it delivered today?
Call before noon, Monday to Saturday, for same-day delivery.
Will a hand-wash station fit through my gate, and where should it go?
A hand-wash station is only about 26.5 inches wide and 21.5 inches deep, so it fits through any standard 36-inch gate. Set the station on level, firm ground a few steps from the toilet doors. Keep it out of the walkway so the toilet line does not block the sinks.
- Level ground: a tilted station pumps unevenly and can spill used water.
- Near the food line: at a party, guests wash more often when the station is between the toilets and the buffet.
- Both sides open: leave room on each side so two people can use it at once.
- Heated model: place it within reach of a 110V outdoor outlet.
In winter, a standard station can freeze. Hand sanitizer inside each unit, or a heated station, covers the cold months. Our winter porta potty rental guide explains winterizing.
With a long row of event units, put a station at each end. That spreads out the crowd and keeps both sinks busy.
Is hand washing station rental in CT better than a sink unit or sanitizer?
Hand washing station rental in CT gives the most washes per item: about 350 per fill at two sinks. A deluxe unit's built-in sink serves one person at a time inside the stall. Sanitizer alone is fine for short, no-food gatherings. The table compares all 4 options.
| Hand-wash station | Sink inside a deluxe unit | Sanitizer only | Heated hand-wash station | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best use | Food events, job sites, kids | Showers, small receptions | Short gatherings, no food | Winter job sites and events |
| Flushing | No toilet | Unit has a foot-pump flush | No toilet | No toilet |
| Handwashing | Two foot-pump sinks, soap, towels | One small sink in the stall | Alcohol gel, no water | Two sinks with warm water |
| Accessibility | Freestanding; reach from the ground | Step-up entry | Dispenser inside each unit | Freestanding; reach from the ground |
| Water / power | None | None | None | 110V outlet, about 13 amps |
| Space needed | About 26.5 x 21.5 in | About 47 x 48 in | None extra | About 26.5 x 21.5 in |
| Main limitation | Fresh water can freeze | One user at a time | Does not remove dirt or grease | Needs an outlet nearby |
Pair stations with standard porta potties for most jobs. For a sink inside the stall, see the deluxe flushing unit.