Mate, the rainwater here is precious as gold, is double filtered before it
makes it to the house, and tastes like heaven, in my opinion.  I HATE
travelling to the smoke, and not being able to take enough rainwater with me
from home...We usually drink 2-3 litres of water on average (probably 4-5
litres in summer), and it's interesting to see people who dont drink a lot
of water when they visit here, and how the heat knocks them about a lot
more. For years, we always had a water cooler sitting on the bench in the
kitchen, but it was annoying how much ice we kept in summer to keep
replenishing the cooler. I was in a kitchen supply shop 4 years ago, and saw
something that gave me an idea...We now actually have a beer tap off the
side of the coldroom outer wall, which is fed by a 20L water drum inside on
the top shelf of the coldroom, filled via a float valve feeding from the
rainwater pressure line. It keeps about 16L chilled to about 4 degrees c,
and this provides us with a pretty much endless supply.  Best thing I ever
did, that beer tap. Easy to fill up a waterbottle for a trip out in the
paddock, and no need to keep filling water coolers.

A lot of bore water (especially artesian) is quite high in salts and soda,
which makes it for very average drinking.  However, I have been told much of
the bad stuff in the water(ie that which makes you feel crook) is actually
dissolved gases like methane. Leaving it for a night or so in an open
container apparently improves the taste no end(the gas dissapates out of the
water).  However, I prefer the sharper taste of rainwater than your average
bore water...Even a bit of 'tang' from an elderly galvanised tank (with
resident frogs)tastes better!

I know what you're saying about the expensive motel with the crap water.
Stayed at a motel in Cunnamulla on work some 6 years ago, and was appalled
at the taste of the water when brushing my teeth.  I thought I was going to
throw up.  What I couldnt understand was the huuuge earthern embankment
around the North & Western sides of the town to keep the bloody river out,
and we are using pongy bore water to bathe in!  Seemed almost criminal to
me...I seriously thought about not brushing my teeth the following night...
They tell me the bloody stuff is great for your hair, but not if you cannot
bear being in the shower!

Cheers,

Rod.......Out  Back