We are using bottled water in ours. Here's a couple more tips for that particular machine:

• Never use distilled water - no conductivity, so it won't even start...
• If you get build-up on the two little silver probes, you need to scrape it off - same symptom, won't start...

The machine has some "good concepts" in it, but it leaks and has some other annoyances... but I still kinda like it. ;)