Don't drink the water! Many Russians don't drink tap water in Moscow and you probably shouldn't drink the water either. You can drink all the water you want at the five star hotels which have their own water purifying systems. Enjoy the ice too. In other places avoid cold tap water and ice - and items rinsed in cold tap water - both in winter and especially in summer, even though the water is frequently tested. For short-term visits and peace of mind, you can buy water in plastic bottles.

Water Treatment. Boil cold water for 10 minutes (hot tap water should never be used for drinking purposes) or, Iodine treatment (Tablets of Potable Aqua, Globulin or 2 drops of iodine per liter of water, 1/2 hour).

Possible health problems. Water is almost always a problem for world travelers and Moscow is no exception. In addition to the usual problems, Moscow is thought by some to have two additional problems. The first is with heavy metal, not really a problem for short-term visitors. The second problem is with "Giardia Lamblia", a parasite found throughout the world (especially in mountain streams with mountain sheep grazing nearby). The symptoms may appear after days, weeks or months and include stomach cramps, nausea, bloated stomach, diarrhea and frequent foul gas. The current state of these problems is unresolved. Treat under care of a doctor (some use Metronidazole, 200 mg 3x per day for fourteen days, available in Russia as Trikapol). See MEDICAL CARE and WHAT TO BRING.

Getting fluids. When traveling getting enough fluids can be a problem. Drink lots of weak tea, soft drinks and beer. Russian mineral water tends to be salty. Now there is excellent Russian spring water bottled by an American firm which competes with Finnish, French, and Irish imported water. Juices are usually OK. Boil all your water and put extra hot water from morning coffee and afternoon tea in pitchers and bottles to cool. You can use a little one cup water heater (bring with you). Some long term residents use water filters or huge bottles of water on top of water heater/coolers. Imported spring or purified bottled water is readily available and can be found in better food stores.

TYPNote on Getting fluids:
1. You can drink all the water you want at the five star hotels which have their own water purifying systems. Enjoy the ice too.
Outside of 5-stars hotels avoid cold tap water and ice, and items rinsed in cold tap water, both in winter and especially in summer, even though the water is frequently tested.
2. When traveling, try to drink lots of weak tea, soft drinks or even beer.
3. For short-term visits and peace of mind, you can buy water in plastic bottles. Imported spring or purified bottled water is readily available and can be found in better food stores. Getting enough fluids in Moscow once was a problem, in part because most Russian mineral water tends to be salty. Now there is excellent Russian spring water bottled by an American firm which competes with Finnish, French, and Irish imported water. Juices are usually OK.

Hot Water Supply Interruption in Summer. The hot water to apartments and offices is often supplied by central power stations. In summer, the hot water is usually turned off for two to four weeks for "planned repairs" . Boil some water and take a sponge bath. Even better, find an apartment with a gas or electric water heater.