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Consumer Factsheet on: COPPER
List of
Contaminants
As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact
sheet is part of a larger publication: National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public or
private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if found in
amounts greater than the health standard set by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
What is Copper and how is it used?
Copper is a metal found in natural deposits as ores containing other
elements. It is widely used in household plumbing materials.
Why is Copper being regulated?
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA
to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause
health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health
risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.
The MCLG for copper has been set at 1.3 parts per million (ppm) because EPA
believes this level of protection would not cause any of the potential health
problems described below.
Since copper contamination generally occurs from corrosion of household
copper pipes, it cannot be directly detected or removed by the water system.
Instead, EPA is requiring water systems to control the corrosiveness of their
water if the level of copper at home taps exceeds an Action Level.
The Action Level for copper has also been set at 1.3 ppm because EPA
believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to
which water systems can reasonably be required to control this contaminant
should it occur in drinking water at their customers home taps.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensuring these
standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. All
public water supplies must abide by these regulations.
What are the health effects?
Short- and long-term effects: Copper is an essential nutrient, required by
the body in very small amounts. However, EPA has found copper to potentially
cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels
above the Action Level. Short periods of exposure can cause gastrointestinal
disturbance, including nausea and vomiting. Use of water that exceeds the
Action Level over many years could cause liver or kidney damage. People with
Wilsons disease may be more sensitive than others to the effect of copper
contamination and should consult their health care provide
How much Copper is produced and released to the environment?
Copper may occur in drinking water either by contamination of the source
water used by the water system, or by corrosion of copper plumbing. Corrosion
of plumbing is by far the greatest cause for concern. Copper is rarely found in
source water, but copper mining and smelting operations and municipal
incineration may be sources of contamination.
From 1987 to 1993, according to the Toxics Release Inventory copper compound
releases to land and water totaled nearly 450 million lbs., of which nearly all
was to land. These releases were primarily from copper smelting industries. The
largest releases occurred in Utah. The largest direct releases to water
occurred in Tennessee.
What happens to Copper when it is released to the environment?
All water is corrosive toward copper to some degree, even water termed
noncorrosive or water treated to make it less corrosive. Corrosivity toward
copper is greatest in very acidic water. Many of the other factors that affect
the corrosivity of water toward lead can also be expected to affect the
corrosion of copper.
How will Copper be detected in and removed from my drinking water?
The regulation for copper became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995,
EPA required your water supplier to collect water samples from household taps
twice a year and analyze them to find out if copper is present above 1.3 ppm in
more than 10 percent of all homes tested. If it is present above this level,
the system must continue to monitor this contaminant twice a year.
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the Action level,
your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of copper so that it
is consistently below that level. The following treatment methods have been
approved by EPA for controlling copper: Corrosion control.
How will I know if Copper is in my drinking water?
If the water system fails to comply with any EPA or state treatment
requirements, the system must notify the public via newspapers, radio, TV and
other means. Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water
supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health.
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public or
private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if found in
amounts greater than the health standard set by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
Drinking Water Standards:
MCLG: 1.3 ppm
Action level: 1.3 ppm
Copper Releases to Water and Land, 1987 to 1993 (in pounds):
|
Water |
Land |
TOTALS |
1,538,148 |
442,082,245 |
|
Top Ten States *
| |
UT |
55,350 |
153,501,500
|
NM |
0 |
130,682,387
|
AZ |
2,636 |
104,619,532
|
MI |
19,763 |
11,172,897
|
NY |
66,57 |
10,017,766
|
MT |
0 |
8,696,153
|
TN |
301,417 |
1,208,804
|
MO |
250 |
1,486,000
|
AL |
41,213 |
513,536
|
MD |
78,601 |
270,945
|
|
Major Industries*
| |
Primary copper smelting |
7,591 |
201,214,264
|
Other nonferrous smelt. |
4,414 |
11,317,048
|
Plastic materials |
44,422 |
9,637,850
|
Blast furnaces, steel |
156,982 |
3,229,752
|
Poultry slaughtering |
0 |
1,249,750
|
Copper rolling, drawing |
17,253 |
941,075
|
Ind. organic chems |
28,936 |
827,356
|
Prepared feeds, misc. |
1,038 |
760,094
|
Ind. inorganic chems |
220,503 |
527,458
|
* Water/Land totals only include facilities with releases greater than a
certain amount - usually 1000 to 10,000 lbs.
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more about their drinking water, and
to support local efforts to protect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking
water. Your water bill or telephone books government listings are a good
starting point.
Your local water supplier can give you a list of the chemicals they test for
in your water, as well as how your water is treated.
Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a valuable source of
information.
For help in locating these agencies or for information on drinking water in
general, call: EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.
For additional information on the uses and releases of chemicals in your
state, contact the: Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 424-9346.
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