Why Muscovites Avoid Drinking Tap Water: An Analysis of Determining Factors

Last registered on March 23, 2026
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Why Muscovites Avoid Drinking Tap Water: An Analysis of Determining Factors
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0018150
Initial registration date
March 17, 2026

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
March 23, 2026, 7:26 AM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Aleksandra Kopylova
Affiliation
New Economic School
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2026-03-18
End date
2026-05-31
Keywords
Behavior, Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
Tap water, water quality, plastic waste, perceptions, survey, experiment
JEL code(s)
Q25, Q53, H41, P48
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This paper examines why residents of Moscow continue to avoid drinking tap water despite substantial investments in water treatment infrastructure. The study asks whether avoidance is driven by trust in public services, perceptions of local pipe quality, or persistent habits formed during earlier periods. The project uses an original survey of Moscow residents combined with an informational treatment explaining the city’s water purification process and recent improvements in water quality. The analysis estimates how these mechanisms are associated with tap water avoidance and whether exposure to information shifts perceived safety and intended future tap water use. The findings have implications for public communication strategies and urban environmental policy.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Kopylova, Aleksandra. 2026. "Why Muscovites Avoid Drinking Tap Water: An Analysis of Determining Factors." AEA RCT Registry. March 23. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.18150-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
I run an online survey of Moscow residents. Participants are recruited through a professional survey platform ensuring that the sample reflects the population of Moscow in terms of basic demographic characteristics. Respondents are randomly assigned either to a control group or to an information treatment related to tap water quality in the city. To be eligible, participants must be adults (age 18+) currently living in Moscow.
Intervention Start Date
2026-03-18
Intervention End Date
2026-03-19

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The primary outcomes are respondents’ perceived safety of tap water in Moscow, their stated willingness to increase consumption of unfiltered tap water, and their willingness to recommend drinking tap water to others.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
The main outcomes are based on respondents’ answers to post-treatment questions about tap water safety and intended behavior. Perceived safety of tap water is measured using a categorical survey question asking how safe respondents consider tap water in Moscow. Intended behavior is measured using questions about the likelihood of increasing tap water consumption without additional treatment and the likelihood of recommending tap water to others. These outcomes will be analyzed both as categorical variables and as binary indicators capturing whether respondents express positive perceptions or willingness to increase tap water use.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
I am interested in heterogeneity in responses to the informational treatment across several mechanisms that may explain tap water avoidance. In particular, I examine whether treatment effects differ depending on respondents’ trust in public services, their personal experiences with water quality problems, and indicators of habit formation related to tap water consumption.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
Trust in public services is measured using respondents’ ratings of the quality and reliability of several public services in Moscow. Local infrastructure experiences are measured using questions about the frequency of water quality problems observed at home in the past 12 months and respondents’ perceptions of where such problems originate (for example water treatment plants or pipes). Habit formation is measured using questions about when respondents stopped regularly drinking unfiltered tap water. These variables will be used to examine heterogeneous responses to the informational treatment.

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
I randomize the information provided to respondents in an online survey. Participants are assigned either to a treatment group receiving information about tap water quality in Moscow or to a control group that does not receive this information.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Respondents are assigned to either the treatment or control survey version through the survey platform at the moment of participation.
Randomization Unit
Randomization is at the unit of individuals.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
0
Sample size: planned number of observations
400 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
200 people in treatment, 200 in control group
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan