Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in St Petersburg?
No, tap water in St Petersburg should not be drunk directly from the tap. Vodokanal Sankt-Peterburga treats the water, but ageing infrastructure and historical Giardia contamination from the Neva River make boiling or bottled water essential.
Water Source
St Petersburg draws approximately 98% of its water from the Neva River via five major waterworks, with the remaining 2% from underground sources. The Neva carries water from Lake Ladoga through the city.
Contaminants & Concerns
Significant concerns. The Neva River has historically carried Giardia lamblia parasites. UV disinfection introduced in the 2000s reduced but did not eliminate the risk. Extensive ageing pipe infrastructure leaches iron and lead. Heavy chlorination is used.
Tips
- •Do not drink tap water without boiling it at a rolling boil for at least one minute
- •Use bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth — it is inexpensive and universally available
- •Avoid ice cubes in drinks unless you are certain they were made with purified or bottled water
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.
- •WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality
- •CDC Travelers' Health destination pages
- •The municipal water utility's published quality data