usvi-on-line
Is it safe to drink or cook with cistern water??
A swollen dead squirrel....YUCK.....miaThe Pine Peace Market, which is very close to where you are staying, sells gallon jugs of water, 2 to a box.
While I can't remember the cost, my mom said it was very reasonable (in island dollars) and comparable to what she pays at home - $0.90 maybe? We did a grocery run to the Pine Peace and found the prices for the basics to be reasonable.
In the past, I did drink the cistern water. That was until a life-long island resident told me he never drinks from the cistern due to the animal crap on the roof!
Then again, I have been know to abide by the 5 second rule at home so I not that concerned about germs!
While I can't remember the cost, my mom said it was very reasonable (in island dollars) and comparable to what she pays at home - $0.90 maybe? We did a grocery run to the Pine Peace and found the prices for the basics to be reasonable.
In the past, I did drink the cistern water. That was until a life-long island resident told me he never drinks from the cistern due to the animal crap on the roof!
Then again, I have been know to abide by the 5 second rule at home so I not that concerned about germs!
On our last trip, we drank bottled water as there was a water bottle dispenser in the villa. We did drink the ice straight from the ice maker in the fridge and I have no idea whether it was filtered or not. We also brushed our teeth and used the tap to cook with. Honestly I'm pretty sure we did a little of both cistern and bottled. None of us had a problem at all. I'll do exactly the same in future.
If your worried about it, get your water at St. John Ice (I believe you can get 5 gal jugs) and use it. Don't be afraid to brush your teeth with the tap though. The only time we ever brushed our teeth with bottled was in Mexico where in big bold letter right above the sink it said (water not potable).
If your worried about it, get your water at St. John Ice (I believe you can get 5 gal jugs) and use it. Don't be afraid to brush your teeth with the tap though. The only time we ever brushed our teeth with bottled was in Mexico where in big bold letter right above the sink it said (water not potable).
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
Geez, all these horror stories are making me worried about drinking my cistern water now! We put the tap water into a Brita pitcher and that is the extent of the filtration that we do. I've never found anything disgusting in the water, and I think it tastes fine.
Although we don't get sick from drinking the water straight out of the tap, our Scottish Terrier does vomit if the water isn't filtered (he has a sensitive stomach).
Although we don't get sick from drinking the water straight out of the tap, our Scottish Terrier does vomit if the water isn't filtered (he has a sensitive stomach).
Those of you who live on the island have probably built up immunity to the bacteria and micro-organisms in the cistern water. For those of who visit I believe it's safer to use bottled water and not have to worry about problems related to whatever little things are living and growing in the H2O. That's just my take on it.