The Hidden Truth About Copper in Drinking Water: What You Need to Know
- Published:
- Updated: January 2, 2025
Summary
Uncover the hidden truth about copper in drinking water:
- Copper’s Role: Essential for health but harmful in excess, often from natural sources or corroding pipes.
- Health Risks: Short-term exposure can cause gastrointestinal issues; long-term exposure may lead to liver and kidney damage.
- Regulation and Testing: Legal limits set by EPA and WHO; home testing kits and professional analysis available.
Copper is a element that nature provides and therefore life requires it. It’s involved in all sorts of physiological functions such as energy generation, iron metabolism and brain function. But as with all elements, too much copper can be toxic.
But where does the copper go, into our tap water? There are two primary sources. The first is from natural sources, like copper-bearing rocks and soils, which could leach copper into groundwater. This second and often greater cause is human activity. copper pipes, for instance, leach copper into tap water, especially when the water is corrosive.
What is the Role of Copper in the Human Body?
Copper is the building block of human health. It helps to make red blood cells, keeps nerve cells and the immune system intact, and it also helps absorb iron. It’s something our bodies don’t have the capacity to make themselves, we have to get it from our food.
But the body doesn’t need very much copper. Adults require 900 micrograms every day, easily met through the right balanced diet. Copper-rich foods are shellfish, whole grains, beans, nuts, potatoes and organ meats. In this case, the part of drinking water that we get from drinking water every day is typically small.
What is the Potential Health Risks of Excessive Copper?
Copper is needed in the body but, if taken in excess, it’s toxic. High copper concentrations short-term can lead to gastroenteritis – nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Excessive levels of copper in the blood can be dangerous (rare) for a longer period of time, and can cause liver damage and kidney failure.
And there are those who simply react strongly to copper. Those include patients with Wilson’s disease, a genetic disease that disables the body’s function of managing copper so that it accumulates in dangerous levels. Even normal copper concentrations are toxic for these people.
Legal Limits and Standards for Copper in Drinking Water
Due to the health risks of too much copper, there are rules and standards put in place to restrict the amount of copper in drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an action level for copper of 1.3 milligrams per litre in the US. If there is more than 10% copper above this threshold in customer taps being tested, several additional steps will need to be taken by the water system to inhibit corrosion.
So too does the World Health Organization (WHO), which set a standard value of 2.0 mg/l for copper in drinking water. All of these regulations and requirements are in the interest of public health, but they also depend on water companies’ ability to manage and regulate copper.
How to Test Your Drinking Water for Copper
You can get your water tested if you are worried about copper in your water. Copper home testing kits are easily available and will help to inform you of the copper level in your water at a moment’s notice. But these kits aren’t all equally accurate, and they’re not meant to be a substitute for laboratory testing.
The best reading can be performed by taking your water professionally tested. Labs usually have this service, and some local health departments will even do expert water testing or refer you to a lab. When taking samples for analysis, do what the label says to get the best results.
Treatment Options for Reducing Copper in Drinking Water
If your drinking water contains high levels of copper, there are several treatment options available:
- Corrosion Control: This involves adjusting the pH of the water to minimize the corrosion of pipes, which is a common source of copper in drinking water.
- Point-of-Use Devices: These include filters or treatment systems that are installed at a single tap and treat water at the point of use.
- Point-of-Entry Systems: These systems treat all the water entering a home and are typically installed at the water meter or where the water supply enters the home.
Each option has its pros and cons, so it’s important to consider your specific situation and possibly consult with a water treatment professional before making a decision.
Copper Pipes and Plumbing: A Common Source of Copper in Drinking Water
Copper is also present in pipes and fixtures — the copper in drinking water is fairly ubiquitous. This is especially true in older residences where the mineral or acidity of the water can seep copper from the pipes into the tap.
Here are things you can do to prevent copper leaching from pipes:
Run the Water: If your tap hasn’t been used for a couple of hours, run the water for a minute or so to clean out the water that has been accumulating in the pipes.
Cook and Drink Only in Cold Water: Hot water is more likely to leach copper from pipes. So if you are cooking or filling a glass to drink, take cold water.
These methods will make copper in drinking water much less harmful to your health.
Looking Forward: The Future of Copper Regulation and Research
Future: Research and regulatory shifts could affect copper in our water supply. The long-term health effects of copper, particularly at low levels, are still being researched. The results of this analysis could shape future regulations and guidance.
Copper is a very necessary nutrient, but it is harmful when it is used in high concentrations in our drinking water. We can keep ourselves and our families well water, by being informed and doing our part.
Share this on social media:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Related Posts
