What is Copper?

Copper is a soft malleable metal, which is an excellent conductor.

Trace amounts of copper are required for health, but higher levels can cause staining and health issues.

The drinking water standards give both a guideline value of 1.0mg/L for blue/green staining and a maximum acceptable value of 2.0mg/L for health.

How does copper get into my water?

The most common source of copper is from pipework in the house being dissolved. This generally happens when water is acidic and is worse where water is heated

Occasionally noticeable levels of copper are found in groundwater.

What does copper do?

Copper imparts a metallic taste to water, it can give water a green appearance and cause blue/green staining of fixtures.

At high levels, copper can cause stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting & diarrhea.

Very high levels may cause damage to the liver.

How can I remove copper from my water?

This will depend on where the problem is coming from.

If it is a result of acidic water corroding copper pipes, then correcting pH will solve the issue.

If the copper is in the source water, then it can be removed with cation exchange, reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration.