Copper in Drinking Water: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
- Published:
- Updated: November 26, 2024
Summary
Copper in drinking water is essential for health but requires balance. Here’s what parents need to know:
- Sources: Copper can enter water from pipes and fixtures.
- Safe Levels: EPA sets the action level at 1.3 mg/L.
- Health Effects: Excessive copper can cause toxicity, especially harmful to children.
Copper is a mineral that is a trace mineral in our bodies. It’s what makes our bones strong, our connective tissues form, and our nervous system functions normally. Also, copper helps absorb iron, so you don’t get anemia.
But as with all minerals, balance is everything. We have a very little copper in our bodies. The copper dosages should be taken depending on age but are usually between 340 to 900 micrograms daily for children and adults respectively.
Sources of Copper in Drinking Water
Copper naturally occurs in the environment and can make its way into our water supply through the soil and rocks. However, the most common source of copper in drinking water is from copper pipes and plumbing fixtures.
When water sits idle in copper pipes, especially if the water is acidic, copper can leach into the water. This is why the first draw of water from the tap in the morning or after several hours of non-use may contain higher levels of copper.
Safe Levels of Copper in Drinking Water
How to determine safe levels of copper in water is to know what regulations health authorities have laid down. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a maximum action level for copper in water of 1.3 mg/L.
If copper is higher than this level in more than 10% of the customer taps tested, the water supply system must do a bunch of other things to prevent corrosion. If the action level for copper is exceeded, then the water provider also has to inform citizens on what can be done to keep themselves healthy.
Potential Health Effects of Excessive Copper
Copper is healthy but not too much copper is bad. Too much copper can produce copper toxicity, or copperiedus. The symptoms of this can vary with exposure level but include abdominal pain, liver damage and kidney disease.
Kids – because of their little bodies and developing organs – are especially susceptible to excess copper. Chronic copper exposure causes children to develop problems and develop disabilities.
What are effective methods to reduce copper levels in drinking water?
If your water has been found to contain high levels of copper, there are several methods you can use to reduce it:
- Flushing your pipes: Let your water run for a few minutes before using it, especially if it has been sitting in the pipes for several hours. This can help to flush out any copper that may have leached into the water.
- Using cold water for consumption: Copper leaches more easily into hot water, so use cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula.
- Installing a water treatment system: Certain types of water treatment systems, such as reverse osmosis, distillation, or activated carbon filters, can help to remove copper from water.
Implementing these methods can go a long way in reducing copper levels and ensuring the water your child drinks is safe.
How to Test for Copper in Your Water Supply
Get your water tested if you are worried about copper in your water. There are a lot of companies that provide home testing kits to detect the various contaminants like copper. Or you can avail a water testing expert.
Test water particularly if you live in an older house with copper pipes, or if your water has a metallic odor or blue-green stain on the fixtures. Check your family’s water regularly to make sure it is safe and healthy for them.
How can a safe drinking water environment be created specifically for children?
Keeping children safe around copper levels doesn’t stop at copper levels. It’s a whole-house approach, from regular water testing for schools to knowing what contaminants might exist, and if they need treatment, treating the water.
Some other water safety tips to get you started include:
Inform yourself and your family: Know where water contamination may come from and how to avoid it.
Maintaining: Be sure to check your plumbing and water treatment systems often to ensure that they are up and running.
Stay informed: Stay current with water quality reports and advisories from your water provider.
These are the things you can do to make your children’s world healthy and to make sure that the water they drink promotes them.
Symptoms of Copper Overexposure in Children
When it comes to children, overexposure to copper can come in many different forms. Exposure in a short period of time results in acute nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and cramping.
It is more escapist when the exposure is long term, and symptoms include fatigue, mood swings and developmental delays. The moment your child develops any traces of copper exposure, see a healthcare provider immediately.
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