Are we missing something? Don’t these people have running water? They lugged a 1/3 full barrel inside instead of turning on the tap?
I live in Atlanta. We have a pretty serious drought going on around here, and before long I'll put a rain barrel on each of my gutter downspouts.
The issue isn't a lack of running water. the issue is using water that isn't pure, or clean, or potable, for uses where those things don't matter. Why waste drinkable water, where and when it's scarce, to water a lawn or wash a car? It's far more sensible to collect water that may not be sanitary and use it where it doesn't have to be sanitary.
I don't think the issue here was bringing the water inside. It was melting the ice. Why that was important, I have no clue.