[jerseygirl]

re: "As a rule, through water. 7—10% of water pipes in Russia contain fecal coliforms, so it follows that the risk of infection is high for those who drink tap water"

No wonder they are slugging down Vodka for breakfast!

[struwwelpeter]

No one seemed to drink it from the tap when I lived there. They either bought big 5-liter water bottles, used 'feelter-breeta', or boiled it. Nothing goes down better on a hot summer day then a glass or recently boiled water.... Actually, Russians know how to keep cool in the summer. Cold cucumber and kvass soup, and beer... lots and lots of beer.

One place in Ukraine I lived in had running water only 1-2 hours once or twice a week. We'd fill up the bath tub as a cistern, and heat up big pots on the stove and take sponge bathes. Waste water was to flush the commode.