Copper in Drinking Water, Is it a Problem?

Copper is a natural element that is present in the environment. It has a red color and can be found in natural rock, dirt, water sources and even in the air. People use copper for various requirements and it is used to make electrical conduits, coins and piping. Copper is a mineral that is crucial for living beings including humans. We need to ingest it in small amounts through our food for our health & well-being. But historically science has proven that too much copper can be harmful to our body and can cause health issues such as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, & diarrhea and long-term issues such as liver & kidney disease have been recorded as well.

The Safe Level of Copper

The body does have a natural way of maintaining the correct balance of copper in our system. But this mechanism is still not developed enough in children and thus they are exposed to excess copper and its toxicity. Patients of Wilson’s disease have the same of issue of controlling their copper levels and are cautious regarding the copper levels in their diets.

The water we drink is one of the main sources that copper enter our bodies. Different water sources have different level of copper in them; some have very low levels while others’ levels are downright toxic. The US Environmental Protection Authority has set up an action level, where the copper found in drinking water should not exceed 1,300 micrograms per liter or 1,300 parts per billion. Anything over this limit is said to be excess and has to be dealt with.

Dangers of Copper Plumbing

One of the ways that excess copper can enter our system is through old copper plumbing. The copper in the pipes can slowly dissolve and enter the water stream and enter an unsuspecting person’s body through their drinking or cooking water. The more time the water stays motionless in copper pipes, the more chance it has of dissolving. The surprising thing is in homes with older copper pipes this issue is less compared to houses with newer copper pipes. This is because a copper oxide coating can form inside pipes overtime, insulating the water from the copper in the pipes.
But if you house has new copper pipes it is advised that if the water in the pipes have not been used for more than 6 hours, for example during the night, the water from the pipes should be cleared out before using it for either drinking or cooking.

It is also known that hot water dissolves copper faster than cold water. So it is highly advised that you do not use hot water coming from copper pipes for drinking and cooking. If you want hot water you will need to take cold water and heat it and it is imperative that you do not use such hot water when making baby food, since babies are much more susceptible to copper toxicity.

If you are concerned about copper level in your drinking water, you can get it tested and see if it exceeds that 1,300 micrograms per liter or 1,300 parts per billion level. Also it is advisable to not to use copper plumbing when building a house in order to lower risks.