When access to plumbing is scarce or untrustworthy, portable sinks can help stop the spread of infection, guarantee access to water, promote cleanliness, and create more convenient work environments. Portable sinks can be used in a variety of locations, wherever access to an electrical outlet is possible. This makes them ideal for classrooms, medical facilities, food preparation space, and where monitoring and conserving water usage is needed.

In the food preparation field, it is of utmost importance to adhere to food preparation and handling regulations. This includes keeping areas clean, washing hands after contact with raw ingredients, and removal of pesticides from fresh foods. When food is prepared in a well designed commercial kitchen, access to water is not a problem. However, caterers often need to prepare foods onsite for clients, and that means having guaranteed access to clean water at their disposal no matter where they are. These portable sinks also allow for cleaning spills, dishes, and food preparation and serving areas conveniently.

Likewise in the medical field, care can be given in spaces which may not have kept up with the needs for access to water. Mobile healthcare also faces these same issues for convenient access to clean water when attending to those who need care in non-traditional locations. The flexibility of where to put a portable sink can be helpful when the needs of the healthcare space are in flux. The convenience of the sinks is important in the healthcare field where hand washing helps prevent the spread of infectious disease. In an emergency situation where public water sources may be contaminated, the ability to function with safe water is necessary for hospitals, doctor's offices, and other healthcare facilities. In the classroom, portable sinks can be used to alleviate traffic to plumbing connected sinks.

Hand washing is an important aspect of education, and the ability to access sinks is part of that learning and practicing environment. Whether it is post-recess, post-finger painting, post-frog handling, or pre-snack, supervised hand washing is a necessary part of keeping a clean and healthy classroom environment. Portable sinks come in a variety of heights and depths to make the experience of using them easier for a small child, or even a special needs individual. Often too, temporary buildings are used in schools for classrooms. These classrooms lack the same utilities as a normal building, but students may need access to those facilities.

Portable sinks also add a measure of reliability and assurance. Not only is the water clean, which can be important in areas where the local water source is suspect, such as in an old building with lead pipes, or contaminated well water, but the sinks can contain mechanisms to provide heated water. Portable sinks also can manage the costs of water, and be used to monitor water usage as they contain a limited amount of water in their tanks. The limited water can be used to encourage water conservation techniques such as turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth.