Don’t Drink the Water?

In Charleston during the Civil War, clean drinking water was almost a luxury. Most residents drank well water or rain water, which they collected in what were called cisterns. Most relied on rain water alone, since many people’s water wells were located too close to the family outhouse.

Cisterns in Charleston were usually underground, and accessible from inside the home. They can be made of brick, stone, or metal, and the earliest cisterns were constructed with lime plaster. The College of Charleston built its own cistern in 1857 as a reservoir to provide water for fighting fires. That area is the same location where the College holds its commencement exercises today.

Since the weather in the 1860’s was very similar to what it is today, residents and soldiers alike experienced droughts. When it did rain, thirsty Charlestonians collected as much water as they could, since it was unknown when another shower would come through.

Stay hydrated, and I’ll see you out there.