even though it's free and delivered to their homes every day.

Rain water -- a traditional symbol of the Island's clean environment and healthy way of life -- is losing popularity to fancy bottled versions.

Supermarkets report a boom in demand for imported brands, while a firm supplying a "pure'' version of well water says it has signed up about 200 homes since September.

But according to a Government watchdog, there's nothing wrong with what comes out of the tap -- as long as tanks and roofs are clean.

At Miles Market, sales of imported bottled water have gone up about 20 percent in the last five months.

"It's been fairly dramatic, when the rest of the store is fairly flat,'' said assistant general manager Mr. Graham Redford.

"Sales have definitely increased since about November, for a lot of reasons.

"Our clients are very cosmopolitan, and on their travels they get used to ordering bottled water. A lot more people are using it for their regular day to day drinking water now.'' Shoppers may also be reacting to news stories about water quality, Mr. Redford said.

Mr. Allan Doughty, executive vice-president of MarketPlace supermarkets, has also seen a boom in sales.

"Bottled water is increasing in popularity,'' he said. "Bermuda water is still good, I'm sure of that, but a lot of a water is sold here.'' At the Supermart, general manager Mr. Tredick Gorham had a similar story. "If you go back two or three years, people are definitely buying more bottled water, but there's more on sale now.

"If you go back five or seven years I don't think it occurred to anybody to sell it.'' Mr. Allan Marshall started the company Pure Water with his sister Mrs. Norma Cross last September. He has no doubts why they now have 500 customers, about half of them ordinary families.

"A lot of people are turning away from the traditional idea that Bermuda rain water is the best in the world.'' Pure Water provides large refillable bottles of water to houses and offices.

Its product is distilled local well water, which Mr. Marshall says is free of bacteria and virtually all minerals.

"There's still a lot of people drinking tank water,'' he said. "May the Lord be with them and they won't get ill.

"I'm not saying that tank water is bad for you. But people have got ill from drinking it before.'' Tank water could be affected by acid rain, vehicle fumes, dust, bird droppings, concrete tanks, drowned animals and household pipes, he said.

"You're welcome to it.'' Mrs. Cross, who drank bottled water before the firm started, said the world is more polluted now.

"No water is going to kill you the day after tomorrow,'' she said. "That's not what we're saying at all.

"We're saying that our drinking water coming out of our faucet at home is not as clean as it used to be. I wouldn't drink it.'' It seems many Bermudians share her view. One 30-year Mount Hill resident, who did not want to be named, said she only drank water from her tank if she was desperate.

"Since Belco's smoke stack went up I haven't drunk tap water,'' she said. "I buy it bottled.'' But such concerns can be dealt with, says environmental health chief Mr.

Patrick Mayers.

Although he admits to a liking for Perrier, Mr. Mayers is a traditionalist.

"It's a general trend with people wanting to buy bottled water,'' he said.

"It's a big thing in the States and the UK, where people have been concerned about water pollution.

"I'm happy with my tank. I have a filter on my drinking water supply and the water I get is very good indeed.'' He said outlets used to fill water trucks were sampled regularly, and private tank water was checked whenever people expressed concern.

He advised residents to make sure their roof is clean and painted.

Tanks should be cleaned at least every six years by law. Clean tanks should be regularly chlorinated, especially if a filter is installed.

If all this is done then tank water should be OK, Mr. Mayers said.

He agreed people may worry about their water when the Tynes Bay incinerator starts.

But he said: "The likely impact of any fallout is exceedingly remote, based on the studies which have been carried out.'' And he had a final warning for those who believe they are safe with bottled waters. Some have been found to have high bacteria counts.

IT LOOKS the same, but purists say they prefer their water out of a bottle.