In oups.com,
Bob typed:
Pop wrote:

A reliable, "good" cistern is fairly expensive to run these
days.
You can't have the old open types that used to exist. Where
is
it getting its water from?

Pop`

I've always wondered about the old cisterns that gathered water
from
rain runoff. Seems like runoff would contain all sorts of
insects,
bird crap, etc. Did people use that water for drinking water?
Sure
doesn't sound healthy.

Bob

No, not for drinking water but for washing, bathing, etc.. The
rain water types usually provided plenty of soft water for
washing. They were also a handy place for a firetruck to drop a
sucker to get water real quick; almost as good as having a
swimming pool supply if they got there in timeg.