In my personal opinion, anyone who lives in a Big City, and drinks the tap water straight, is on the foolhardy side of brave. Even in Seattle, one of the cleaner cities in the US, I'd filter my water.
There are exceptions in some neighborhoods, but that's what they are -- very rare exceptions. One of the articles quoted in Simone's post mentioned that one's tap water can be submitted to be analyzed for drinkability to the Sanitary-Epidemiological Organs. I see two flaws in such advice. Firstly, OK, so my tap water's certified as clean today -- what about next week when a water main busts somewhere, and a crew of drunken and/or apathetic municipal plumbers do a half-hearted job fixing it, and then my daughter's drinking sewage? Secondly, how can one trust the government to test one's water, if one doesn't trust the government to clean it in the first place? I think Simone's statement "If you start thinking on your health seriously during your stay in Moscow better go back home))" has humor and merit, but is a bit strong. For those of you stubbornly staying in Moscow (like me), a few simple health tips: * Filter your water. Brita pitchers are a fine option, and under-sink filters are even better for lazy types. * Avoid eating at kiosks, although hot dogs are much safer than chicken shwarma. * Don't trust stop-lights when afoot. The green "walking guy" is NOT someone to believe in -- you have eyes. * Don't start political arguments with aggressive, young locals, especially after midnight -- and don't speak loudly in Foreign, right after one of Russia's sports teams loses, or wins. * Breathe through your nose, on the street and on the Metro, especially in the winter. I have a zillion more tips, but the above should improve your health chances significantly. In fact, most of the above apply to ANY big city, like NY, LA, Detroit, etc. At least in Moscow, there are less guns. :) Last thing about water -- the traditional ex-Soviet notion that "boiled tap-water is safe" is garbage. Sure, there's no bacteria, but what about chemicals and minerals? Filter it. Or buy it bottled, if you don't mind wasting money. Live long and prosper! -Alexander
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