Copper in Drinking Water: Health Risks, Sources, and How to Remove It
Copper is an inorganic contaminant that can be found in drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for copper at 1.3 mg/L. Monitoring for this substance is important to ensure water quality is maintained within safe limits.
Health Effects
Consuming water with elevated copper levels can lead to adverse health effects. Short-term exposure is associated with gastrointestinal distress. Over the long term, high levels of copper intake can potentially cause liver or kidney damage.
How Copper Gets Into Tap Water
Copper typically enters drinking water through the corrosion of plumbing materials and copper pipes. Mining activities can also release copper into environmental water sources. These pathways represent the primary ways copper contaminates drinking supplies.
How to Remove Copper From Your Water
Effective methods for addressing copper contamination include corrosion control, water softening, and reverse osmosis. Corrosion control is often used by water systems to prevent leaching from pipes, while home water softening and reverse osmosis can remove the contaminant directly.
Should You Test Your Water?
To verify copper levels in your water, you can review your local consumer confidence report or perform a WaterQ search. Private well owners may also consider testing their water if they suspect plumbing corrosion. You can also look up your local water system on WaterQ or check the Copper data page for reported levels in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Copper dangerous in drinking water?
Elevated copper levels in drinking water can present health risks. Short-term consumption can result in gastrointestinal distress. Long-term ingestion of high copper levels may cause liver or kidney damage.
How does Copper get into tap water?
Copper typically enters tap water through the corrosion of plumbing systems and copper pipes, or from mining activities.
How can I remove Copper from my water?
Copper can be removed or controlled in drinking water using treatment methods like corrosion control, water softening, or reverse osmosis.
Source: EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and WaterQ National Database. For more contaminants, visit our contaminant library.
What actually removes copper
Like lead, copper is picked up from your own plumbing rather than delivered by the utility, and it shows up most in homes with newer copper pipe and acidic water. Running the tap for 30 seconds after water has been sitting overnight cuts the level substantially at no cost. For a permanent fix, an NSF/ANSI 53 filter or RO at the kitchen tap is enough — whole-house treatment is unnecessary.
Works
- Reverse osmosis (NSF 58)The broadest removal available at home: arsenic, nitrate, fluoride, PFAS, TDS.
- Carbon certified for lead (NSF 53)The cheapest thing that genuinely removes lead, cysts and many VOCs.
Will not fix this
- Basic activated carbon (NSF 42)
- Ion-exchange water softener
- UV disinfection (NSF 55)
- Boiling Makes it worse — evaporation concentrates what's left behind.
Options that carry the right certification
Ordered cheapest-adequate first. Prices are indicative bands and move often.
| Product | Certification | Upfront | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brita Elite Pitcher FilterPitcher | NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 certified, including a lead reduction claim.Catch:No fluoride, nitrate or arsenic reduction. Not PFAS-rated. | $25–40 | $50–70 | Check price |
| Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-SinkUnder-sink | NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and P473 certified.Catch:Carbon, not RO — no meaningful fluoride, nitrate or arsenic reduction. | $110–160 | $80–120 | Check price |
| APEC ROES-50 EssenceUnder-sink | Built with WQA-certified components to NSF/ANSI 58.Catch:Needs an under-sink drain connection and a spare hole for the dedicated faucet. Strips minerals — some people dislike the flat taste. | $180–240 | $50–80 | Check price |
Certification listings change. Before buying, confirm the current listing for the exact model in the NSF certified products database — a manufacturer's marketing page is not a certification. WaterQ earns a commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you; see our affiliate disclosure. This is general information, not medical or engineering advice.
For a full breakdown of certifications, running costs and the models worth considering, see our buying guide for copper.