Copper and Drinking Water from Private Wells
What is copper?
Copper is a reddish metal that occurs naturally in rock, soil, plants,
animals, water, sediment, and air. Since copper is easily shaped or
molded, it is commonly used to make coins, electrical wiring, and
household plumbing materials. Copper compounds are also used as
agricultural pesticides and to control algae in lakes and reservoirs. All
living organisms including humans need copper to survive; therefore a
trace of copper in our diet is necessary for good health. However, some
forms of copper can also harm you.
How can I be exposed to copper?
Copper and its compounds are found in many places in the environment, in
the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the foods we eat. You can
also be exposed when your skin comes into contact with soil, water, or
other copper-containing substances.
Where and how does copper get into drinking water?
The level of copper in surface and groundwater are generally very low.
High levels of copper may come from fertilizers, septic systems, animal
feedlots, industrial waste, and food processing waste. Copper may occur
in drinking water either from contaminated well water or corroded copper
pipes. Corrosion of pipes is by far the greatest cause for concern.
What
are the symptoms of copper exposure?
Immediate health effects from drinking water with very high levels of
copper include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Drinking
water with high levels of copper for many years could cause liver or
kidney damage.
Children
under the age of one and people who have Wilson’s disease may be more
sensitive than others to the effects of copper. These persons may want to
consider other drinking water sources if their water contains high levels
of copper.
What
should I do if I have concerns about copper exposure?
See your health care provider to discuss your concerns.
How is
copper exposure diagnosed?
Copper can be measured in the blood and urine. High levels of copper in
these fluids can show that you have been exposed to high levels of
copper. The specialized tests needed to measure the copper levels of
blood or urine are not available at most doctors’ offices, but can be done
at special laboratories. However, these tests cannot tell you when you
were exposed, how much copper you were exposed to, or whether health
effects will occur.
What is the treatment for high copper exposure?
There are treatments that will reduce the amount of copper in your body.
Treatment often consists of nutritional therapy and exercise, which helps
your body produce the substances it needs to lower copper levels. Consult
with your health care provider.
How do I remove copper from my drinking water?
Please DO NOT heat or boil your water to remove copper. Because some of
the water evaporates during the boiling process, the concentration of
copper can increase as you boil the water.
If the
copper in your drinking water is from your plumbing system, flushing the
water system before using the water for drinking or cooking is a practical
option. Any time a faucet has not been used for several hours
(approximately 6 or more), you can flush the system by running the water
for about 2-3 minutes or until the water becomes as cold as it will get.
Flush each faucet individually before using the water for drinking or
cooking. Water flushed from the tap can be used for watering plants,
washing dishes or clothing, or cleaning. Avoid cooking with or drinking
water from hot water taps, because hot water dissolves copper more readily
than cold water does.
You may
also wish to consider water treatment with a neutralizing filter. If you
want to know more about these filters, please contact NSF International,
an organization for public health and safety through standards
development, product certification, education, and risk management.
NSF
International
3475 Plymouth Road
P.O. Box 130140
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-0140
Phone number: (877) 867-3435
Web site: http://www.nsf.org
Copper can
be removed from water successfully by using treatment processes such as
reverse osmosis and distillation at each separate faucet. To be
effective, these treatment options require careful maintenance and
testing. Contact your local health department for recommended
procedures.
Revised
Summer 2003
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Reference:
"Copper and Drinking Water from Private Wells,"
Drinking Water. Division of Parasitic Diseases. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Department of Health and Human Services. July 2,
2004. <http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/healthywater/factsheets/copper.htm>.
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