Formal — to staff
Temple · Shrine · Etiquette
You
すみません、この水は何に使うのですか？
すみません、このみずはなににつかうのですか？
Excuse me, what is this water for?
Romaji: Sumimasen, kono mizu wa nani ni tsukau no desu ka? / Reply Romaji: Kore wa omairi no mae ni te to kuchi o kiyomeru tame no mono desu. Nomanai de kudasai ne.
Reply
これはお参りの前に手と口を清めるためのものです。飲まないでくださいね。
これはおまいりのまえにてとくちをきよめるためのものです。のまないでくださいね。
This is for purifying your hands and mouth before praying. Please do not drink it.
Gesture & etiquette
Point to the purification fountain (chōzuya) and the water within it.
Never drink the water from the purification fountain (chōzuya). The proper procedure is to purify your left hand, then right hand, then rinse your mouth (spitting water beside, not back into the basin), and finally rinse the ladle handle.