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“Water vulnerability” is the term used to refer to the condition of a person who has difficulty accessing clean water (for washing and laundry or toilet use) because of its cost, because of housing conditions (deficiency or lack of adequate facilities) or because of lack of housing. Drawing on material from a survey conducted in Brussels in 2019-2020, the article explores the ways in which access to clean water is organised for and by people living in these circumstances. After an overview of the phenomenon in Brussels, the article explores the forms of coexistence that develop in places designed to provide water vulnerable people access to water for personal hygiene. Lastly, looking at places where water vulnerability issues are not expected, it shows that access to water for hygiene in such spaces depends on a variety of institutional arrangements and interpersonal agreements that place heavy demands on the parties involved.