Those words come from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of the founders of the English Romantic movement. Written in 1798, it describes the plight of sailors stranded at sea, surrounded by undrinkable saltwater.

This week, the City of Richmond once again placed its citizens in a predicament not unlike those seafarers from long ago. On Tuesday afternoon, as a light drizzle fell, the City informed residents on the North Side and in other areas that their tap water wasn’t safe to drink. The “boil advisory” instructed people to heat their water to kill any impurities.

It might as well have referred to the rising anger and frustration among residents.

Perhaps anticipating a heated City Council meeting that night, officials at 900 E. Broad St. decided to postpone it. I wouldn’t blame them — an audience of angry citizens and city leaders without clear answers rarely leads to productive dialogue, though it can produce some memorable soundbites. One council member said the cancellation stemmed from health and safety concerns following the outage. Either way, it was probably the right call.

This water crisis feels like a summer rerun we could do without. Just like in January, some residents noticed something was wrong before the city sent out a warning. And again, the city’s response appeared to shift as new messages contradicted earlier ones. The list of affected neighborhoods kept growing, even as officials said they were making progress.

It seems the city’s infrastructure — and its communication protocols — are buckling under pressure.

Judging by the empty shelves at local stores, many residents may have used up their emergency supplies during the last boil advisory.

This latest disruption is a reminder of the old axiom: “Stay ready and you don’t have to get ready.” The potential health risks from drinking contaminated water are nothing to play with.

In the coming days, we’ll hear from City officials about who knew what and when — and why the public wasn’t informed sooner.

Expect technical jargon about water pressure, treatment plants, and sediment. Maybe someone will resign. Here’s your spoiler alert: it all ends with Mayor Avula drinking a glass of North Side tap water in front of cameras.

It shouldn’t take another advisory, another scramble for bottled water, or another photo op to remind City leaders of their basic responsibility. Clean water isn’t the gold standard — it’s the baseline.

Until Richmond gets that right, we’re not unlike the mariner’s cursed crew: surrounded by water and still thirsting for better.