Copper in Drinking Water: Understanding Its Benefits and Risks
- Published:
- Updated: January 2, 2025
Summary
Copper, essential for bodily functions, enters drinking water through soil, rocks, and corroded pipes. While it aids energy production and iron absorption, excess copper poses health risks, including nausea and organ damage. Safe levels are 1.3 mg/L, detectable through test kits or lab analysis. pH adjustment and pipe replacement can mitigate excess copper in water.
Copper is a very important trace mineral involved in many physiological processes. It functions in the generation of energy, red and white blood cells, nerve cells and in the immune system. Lack of copper can cause anemia, osteoporosis and low immunity. Copper, as so much else, is about balancing – not too much, not too little.
As a chemical necessity, the body cannot manufacture copper, so we must consume it or take it in from the environment. An example of an environment source could be our drinking water, although as we’ll see it’s very important to keep track of copper levels in water because too much can be dangerous.
Sources of Copper in Drinking Water
Copper gets into drinking water in a number of ways. A natural solution is by copper minerals in the soil and rocks dissolve and can seep into groundwater. But, for the most part, copper gets into water supply in urban environments because copper pipes corrode.
In time, acidic or soft water can rust copper pipe and leak copper into the water line. That’s why homes with old plumbing, or those with well water, can have more copper in their water. Learn more about these sources to help inform how you can best control copper in your water supply.
Health Benefits of Copper in Drinking Water
Copper offers numerous health benefits when consumed in the right amounts. Key benefits include:
- Energy Production: Copper aids in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s primary form of energy.
- Iron Absorption: It helps the body absorb iron, a vital component in red blood cell production.
- Nervous System Function: Copper is involved in the maintenance of myelin sheaths, which are essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
These are just a few examples of how copper contributes to our overall health. However, it’s important to remember that while copper is beneficial, there is a limit to how much our bodies need.
What are the risks associated with excessive copper in drinking water?
On the flip side, too much copper can be harmful. Short-term exposure to high levels of copper can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Long-term exposure can lead to liver and kidney damage, and can even be life-threatening.
One specific risk of excess copper is a condition known as Wilson’s disease. This inherited disorder results in excessive copper accumulation in your liver, brain, and other vital organs, leading to severe neurological and organ damage.
Safe and Unsafe Levels of Copper in Drinking Water
As there are dangers with excess copper, you want to know what the safe limits are. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a maximum permissible level of copper in drinking water at 1.3 mg per liter (mg/L).
Over this threshold can not only be health-threatening but the water is also coloured metallic. This is why checking the copper in your drinking water is so important to stay healthy and pleasant in your drinking water.
Methods for Testing Copper Levels in Drinking Water
There are various copper testing methods for your water. Test kits available at home that provide a results in seconds. Such kits usually come with test strips that change colour when copper in the water reacts. You then contrast the colour of the strip to a chart you’re given to see the amount of copper.
To get a better picture, take a water sample to a registered water testing laboratory. They can also give you a report of the water’s composition, including exact copper levels. This is an additional and somewhat expensive method, but more precise and exact in the outcomes.
Interpreting Test Results for Copper in Drinking Water
Keeping safe water comes down to knowing your test results. Usually copper levels are reported as mg/L (mg/L), or parts per million (ppm). Health guidelines say that the optimal value is 1.3 mg/L or less.
If you have tested high in copper, then consider using treatment methods to lower copper in your water. So you should also consult a doctor to know the health consequences.
Strategies to Reduce Copper Levels in Drinking Water
A few tips to reduce copper from your water:
Adjust pH Levels: This will ward off copper corrosion. Most water companies adjust pH to prevent pipe rust.
Sources Other Than Water: If your water main has a high copper content, look for and switch to another source.
Replacing Copper Pipes: If your plumbing system in your house uses a lot of copper, switch to replacing copper pipes with something else, such as PVC or stainless steel.
Seek the advice of a water-treatment engineer or plumber for the correct approach for your home and well.
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