Can an essential nutrient become a poison? Absolutely.

Copper Exposure from Drinking Water

Because copper is such a common element, deficiency is extremely rare, except in the case medical problems disrupting nutrient absorption. Most people get plenty of copper in a basic healthful diet.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency: "Some people who drink water containing copper in excess of the action level may, with short term exposure, experience gastrointestinal distress, and with long-term exposure may experience liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson's Disease should consult their personal doctor if the amount of copper in their water exceeds the action level."

How Does Copper Get Into Drinking Water

In addition to naturally occurring copper, mining, farming, and manufacturing operations release copper into the environment, including rivers and lakes providing drinking water to millions. According to the Centers for Disease Control, "Lakes and rivers that have been treated with copper compounds to control algae, or that receive cooling water from power plants, can have high levels of copper. Soils can also contain high levels of copper, especially if they are near copper smelting plants."

Copper is also commonly used in plumbing supplies, where it can leach into the water sitting in household pipes. A water utility may deliver water with copper at safe levels which then becomes contaminated by corrosion of the plumbing materials belonging to the water system customers.

Copper Pipe Joint Corrosion

You cannot see, taste, or smell copper dissolved in water. The only way to know for sure if you have a contamination problem is by having your water tested. EPA warms: "You should be particularly suspicious if your home has copper pipes. if you see signs of corrosion (frequent leaks, rust-colored water, stained dishes or laundry, or if your non-plastic plumbing is less than five years old."

Copper Pipe Cross Section Corrosion

How Much Copper is Safe to Drink?

The Environmental Protection Agency's Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) for copper is 1.3 mg/L or 1.3 ppm.

What Does the EPA Do About Copper in Drinking Water?

EPA requires water utilities to collect tap water samples from sites served by the system. If more than 10 percent of samples exceed the copper action level of 1.3 milligrams per Liter (mg/L), water utlilites must take additional steps to reduce the corrosivity of the water.

How To Remove Copper From Drinking Water

We recommend a home water filter that has been tested and certified for copper removal as an easy way to remove copper from your drinking water.

Even if you are served by water tested and deemed to have safe levels of copper, you can still a contamination problem within your home due to your home's piping. The Black Berkey Filter Elements that come standard with all the Berkey water filter systems remove 99.9% of copper and other heavy metals from the drinking water.