Cistern in Wilderness

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View of a cistern complex on the edge of the northern Wilderness of Judah.  The cistern is covered by the metal hatch in the center of the image—a rope attached to a bucket is visible just to the left of the metal hatch.

Note the stone carved watering trough left of center—shepherds fill it with water from the cistern to water their sheep.  Note also, that debris, including animal droppings, were washed into the cistern along with the runoff water.

Question: which type of water would you prefer to drink?  Cistern? Well? Spring (= living water)?  See Jeremiah 2:13 and John 4:4-24.