Don't drink the water! Many Russians don't drink tap water in St. Petersburg 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.

Possible health problems. Water is almost always a problem for world travelers and St. Petersburg is no exception. In addition to the usual problems, St. Petersburg 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).

TYPNote on Getting Fluids:
1. You can drink all the water you want at the 5-star hotels which have their own water purifying systems. Enjoy the ice too. Outside the 5-star hotels avoid cold tap water and ice, and items rinsed in cold tap water, both in winter and especially in summer, even though 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.
4. In St. Pbg boil all your water and put extra hot water from morning coffee and afternoon tea into pitchers and bottles to cool for brushing teeth. You can use a little one cup water heater (bring it with you).
5. Some offices and long-term residents use huge bottles of refreshing pure water on top of water coolers.

Water Treatment:
1. Buy (or bring) a good quality water filter. Many are now available in St. Pbg.
2. Boil cold water for 10 minutes.
3. Iodine treatment (tablets of Potable Aqua, Globulin or 2 drops of iodine per liter of water, wait 1/2 hour).

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.