Is a concentration of 0.2 ppm of copper in drinking water acceptable?

Answer 1

Yes, Copper is allowed in Drinking, but to a certain level of concentration.

You eat and drink about 1,000 micrograms (1,000 ug) of copper per day. Drinking water normally contributes approximately 150 ug/day. Immediate effects from drinking water which contains elevated levels of copper include

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• stomach cramps
• nausea

The seriousness of these effects can be expected to increase with increased copper levels or length of exposure.

Children under one year of age are more sensitive to copper than adults. Long-term exposure (more than 14 days) to copper in drinking water which is much higher than 1,000 ug/I has been found to cause kidney and liver damage in infants. Other persons who are highly susceptible to copper toxicity include people with liver damage or Wilson's disease.

On the average, drinking water accounts for less than 5% of our daily copper intake. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has determined that copper levels in drinking water should not exceed 1300 ug/l. No adverse health effects would be expected if this level is not exceeded. Measures should be taken to reduce exposure to copper if this level is exceeded. How do I know if my drinking water has too much copper?Because copper exhibits these harmful health effects, and because drinking water may be a significant route of exposure to copper, it is important to know how much copper is in your drinking water. You may find that there is a metallic taste in your drinking water before copper levels are high enough to cause adverse health effects. You may also notice blue or bluegreen stains around sinks and Plumbing fixtures. The only way to be certain of the copper level in your drinking water supply is to have the water tested. It is recommended that you use a laboratory that is state certified to analyze copper levels in drinking water.

If you are being served by a public water system, the owner of the utility will have results of copper sampling which has been done in parts of the distribution system. You may wish to consult the utility owner before testing your drinking water for copper.

Answer 2

Yes, because the permiteed concentration (after EPA) is 1,3 mg/L.