Try giving a snack right before bedtime and see if that helps.
My dogs get distilled water, but they will also drink out of the pool when they're outside

I've tried and tried to discourage that, but they won't listen

So far, no ill effects from that. Unless the water is somehow contaminated, I doubt that it's that making him sick. You'd more than likely be sick as well if that was it.
I hope that it stops, it's never fun when these little ones are sick, as they can go downhill way too quickly