Copper Water Test

Copper in Drinking Water: When Your Own Plumbing Becomes the Problem

Copper is an essential mineral that the human body needs in small amounts to function properly. But when copper leaches into your drinking water from household plumbing at elevated levels it stops being a nutrient and becomes a health hazard. Unlike many water contaminants that come from external sources like agriculture, industry, or geology, copper in drinking water most commonly originates from inside your own home, from the pipes, fittings, and fixtures that deliver water to your tap.

The primary driver of copper contamination in drinking water is corrosive water chemistry. When water is acidic or has a low pH, or when certain mineral imbalances are present, it becomes aggressive toward metal surfaces and begins dissolving copper from pipes and solder joints as it flows through them. This is particularly common in homes with copper plumbing, which includes the vast majority of homes built in the United States between the 1960s and the 1990s. Older homes with lead solder connecting copper pipes face a compounded risk since corrosive water that leaches copper from pipes can simultaneously leach lead from the solder at the joints.

The EPA sets a maximum contaminant level for copper in drinking water at 1.3 milligrams per liter under the Lead and Copper Rule. At levels above this threshold short term effects include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Long term exposure to elevated copper has been linked to liver damage, kidney disease, and anemia. Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to copper toxicity and the EPA specifically recommends testing for copper in households where infants consume tap water or formula made with tap water.

A copper test result that comes back elevated is also telling you something important beyond the immediate health concern. It is telling you that your water chemistry may be corrosive, which means other metals in your plumbing including lead could also be leaching into your water. Elevated copper is often one of the first indicators that a broader plumbing corrosion problem exists and that additional testing for lead and other metals is warranted.

How It Works

Order your test and we will mail you a sample collection kit with easy to follow instructions. Collect a water sample from your tap and send it back to our in-house laboratory. Results are delivered within 1 to 3 business days from the date your sample arrives at our lab.

Understanding Your Results

Copper results are measured against the EPA action level of 1.3 milligrams per liter. Every test includes a free consultation with one of our in-house water quality experts. If your copper levels come back elevated we will walk you through what that means for your household, whether additional testing for lead or other metals is advisable, and what water treatment or plumbing options are most effective for your situation. Treatment options for elevated copper include pH adjustment, corrosion inhibitor systems, and point of use filtration including reverse osmosis and certain certified pitcher filters.

This test is recommended for homeowners in homes built between the 1960s and 1990s with copper plumbing, households with infants or young children who consume tap water, anyone who notices a metallic taste or blue-green staining on fixtures and sinks which are classic visual signs of copper corrosion, households where a previous test showed low pH or acidic water chemistry, and anyone who wants to confirm their water’s corrosivity is not affecting the quality of water coming out of their tap.