Copper in Your Tap Water? The Health Risks and How to Solve This At Home
Dec 12, 2024
While there is increasing awareness about lead contamination in water, not much is said about copper.
Some copper can naturally be found in the groundwater, but more of the metal can enter our drinking water through various sources, from corrosion of pipes to industrial and agricultural activities, increasing the amount we consume.
Prolonged exposure to higher levels of the contaminant can be a risk to your health, making filtering it out important.
At Culligan ZeroWater, our filters use a five-step filtration system that removes 99.9% of copper from tap water, along with 99.7% of lead and 95% of forever chemicals.
In this blog, we answer the question “Is copper in water dangerous” and explain how to solve it.
How Does Copper Get In Tap Water?
There are several ways that copper can enter tap water.
One of the most common ways is through our piping. Over time, the pipes erode, and the copper leaches into your water.
It can also come from the ground. If the soil around your area contains high levels of copper it will eventually get into your drinking water. This is particularly likely if you are in an area close to mining, farming, or manufacturing activities.
Finally, in some cases, industrial wastewater can be released into natural river sources, such as rivers and lakes, which can contaminate local drinking water supplies.
Effects of Copper In Tap Water
The negative health effects of consuming copper in drinking water can be long-term or short-term.
In the short term, people experience nausea, vomiting and other digestive disorders. Meanwhile, in the long term, you may suffer mood disorders such as irritability and depression, as well as potential liver damage.
Copper is particularly harmful to infants, so if you have a young child, it is very important to ensure that your water is free of the metal.
Testing for Copper in Tap Water
So, how do you know whether you have copper in your tap water?
Test It For This Specific Metal
There are tests you can buy in your local shop, or if you want a more in-depth analysis, you can have a professional come in and take samples for a comprehensive test. They will test your local water supply for many water contaminants, not just copper but other metals as well. This will allow you to know how pure or impure your tap water really is.
Research Your Area
You can also use official sources and public health websites to research information on your local water supplier. They will have done the tests and can tell you exactly what is in your tap water.
How To Remove Copper in Tap Water
If you find that you have copper in tap water, the best thing to do is buy a water filter jug.
Water filter jugs are fitted with special filters that strip out metals and other impurities, making your tap water safe to drink again.
Sediment filters combined with activated carbon filters remove the majority of the contaminants from the water, capturing both sizable particles and small viruses, metals, and chemical particles.
What Are The Benefits of Water Filter Jugs?
Water filter jugs are an excellent way to get pure drinking water without spending too much; the alternative would be to buy bottled water, which is not cheap and severely impacts the environment.
There are many benefits to opting for a water filter:
- They are affordable.
- Filters can easily be replaced.
- Come in various sizes, so you can find one suitable for your family.
- More environmentally friendly than bottled water.
Trust Culligan ZeroWater Jugs To Remove Copper In Tap Water
One of the top retailers of water filter jugs in the UK is Culligan ZeroWater.
We have a wide range of water filter jugs, and all of them are very effective at stripping water of impurities, including 99% of the copper.
Our filters use a five-stage filtration technology that uses the science of deionization to remove 99.6% of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), metals, and chemicals to enhance its taste and produce healthier water.
Order your Culligan ZeroWater filter jug online today.
If you aren’t sure a water filter is right for you, why not try one of our dispensers? Using the exact same filter as our jugs, they remove copper, other metals, chemicals, and TDSs.
Do you have a question about copper in tap water or our filters? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert team by calling us on 0113 327 1865.
Shop Now →