That’s why sailors drank grog. (alcohol mixed with water) Water in a barrel would be pretty nasty if not downright deadly after a month or so and the alcohol kept the bacteria at bay.
I’m guessing that rural people probably drank more water than urban people simply because it was easier to find safe sources.
I remember an old saying;
“In wine there is truth.”
“In beer there is strength.”
“In water there is bacteria.”
It has become one of my guiding principles.
Mixing the rum ration with water caused the mixture to go sour if not consumed the same day. This prevented sailors from "saving up" their rations for a roaring drunk later.
The phrase "Three sheets to the wind" comes from this era.
'La bonne cuisine est la base du véritable bonheur.' - Auguste Escoffier
(Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness.)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)