What Is a Portable Sink Station?
A portable sink station is a self-contained unit with its own fresh water tank, a pump, a basin and a gray water tank underneath to catch the runoff. No hookup needed. Some models run on foot pumps, some on batteries, and a few offer hot water for washing up after a long shift. New Bedford Porta Pros sets these next to standard porta potty rental units on most construction sites, since OSHA 1926.51(c) sets toilet counts by crew size and a sink nearby just makes sense for compliance and comfort. If your crew is spraying paint, coatings or pesticides, OSHA 1926.51(f)(1) actually requires washing facilities for that exposure, and a portable sink station covers it. For general potable water access on any job, OSHA 1926.51(a)(1) requires an adequate supply be on hand, which is exactly what a portable sink water tank delivers without a hose bib in sight. Pair it with a portable toilet rental order and you have covered both requirements in one delivery.
How Much Does a Portable Sink Rental Cost in New Bedford?
Pricing runs close to what we charge for handwashing stations, since the units share a similar tank and pump setup. A short weekend rental sits toward the lower end, a week costs more than a single day, and a month costs more than a week. Delivery is billed separately and depends on drive time and setup.
| duration | typical range |
|---|---|
| day | See porta potty rental per day for daily comparisons |
| week | Similar tier to standard unit weekly rates |
| month | See monthly porta potty rental for monthly options |
For a full cost breakdown across all our units, our porta potty rental cost page walks through every duration and add-on fee, including delivery. If you are budgeting a larger job with several units, request a quote and we will scope it against your headcount.
Can a Portable Sink Be Used to Wash Hair?
Yes, a portable sink can be used to wash hair, and it is one of the most common requests we get for campsites and disaster relief work. A camping portable sink with a larger basin and a hose attachment handles hair washing better than a standard handwashing unit, which is built more for quick rinses. If you are outfitting a site for disaster relief sanitation or a long-term camping porta potty setup near New Bedford, ask about the deeper basin models. A portable sink to wash hair works best with a hot water option, since cold tank water gets old fast after the first few users. We stock a handful of hot water portable sink units specifically for this, and they rent alongside our shower trailer rental line for crews that need a full wash-up station, not just a rinse.
Does a Portable Sink Need a Water Tank Refill?
Yes, every portable sink relies on its own onboard tank, and refill frequency depends on tank size and how many people use it. A 5 gallon tank on a small unit empties fast with steady use, while a 20 gallon tank on a larger portable sink station can run a full day for a mid-size crew before it needs topping off. New Bedford Porta Pros handles tank refills as part of the service visit, following roughly the same weekly service rhythm the ANSI/PSAI Z4.3 standard sets as a baseline for portable sanitation equipment. If your event or job runs longer, we can schedule extra visits. Fresh water and gray water tanks sit separately in the same unit, so runoff never mixes back into what people wash with. For construction sites already tracking OSHA 1926.51(c) toilet ratios, pairing sinks 1-to-1 with toilet clusters keeps handwashing available exactly where crews need it, and 29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2) requires soap and a way to dry hands, not just water, so ask about our soap dispenser add-on when you book.
Delivery anywhere in New Bedford is straightforward, and we also run routes out to Acushnet Center, 3.3 miles northeast, and Fairhaven, 4.9 miles southeast, on the same trucks. Jobs further out in Dartmouth, 10.7 miles south, or Fall River, 15.2 miles northwest, still fall within our standard delivery zone. See our service areas page for the full list, including Wareham and Dartmouth specifically.
Frequently asked questions
How many portable sinks does a job site need?
Match sinks to your toilet count and crew size. A construction crew of 20 or fewer needs one toilet under OSHA 1926.51(c), and a sink at that same cluster covers washing. For larger crews, our how many porta potties do I need guide breaks down ratios by headcount.
Do portable sinks come with hot water?
Some models do. We stock hot water portable sink units for crews washing up after paint, coatings or pesticide work, where OSHA 1926.51(f)(1) applies, and for general comfort on longer jobs. Ask when you request a quote which units have the hot water option in stock.
Can I rent a portable sink for a wedding or event?
Yes. Portable sinks pair well with our event restroom rental and wedding restroom rental units, giving guests a wash-up spot near the restroom trailer. Most event clients in New Bedford order one sink per restroom cluster.
What is the difference between a portable sink and a handwashing station?
Not much functionally, both use a tank, pump and basin setup. Our handwashing station rental page covers the standard version, while portable sink stations sometimes offer deeper basins or hot water for washing hair or dishes.
How often does the water tank get serviced?
We follow a routine similar to the weekly baseline set by ANSI/PSAI Z4.3 for portable sanitation equipment, refilling fresh water and pumping gray water on each visit. Longer events or heavy-use sites can add extra service visits.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.