Copper in drinking water
Leaches from copper pipes in corrosive water.
Health: Stomach upset at high levels, and liver and kidney effects with long exposure.
1.3 ppm
Health goal (MCLG)
1.3 ppm
Action level (90th percentile)
Across the US
974
systems with results
974
with lead detected (90th pct. > 0)
974
action level exceedances
Those 974 systems serve about 1.6 million people.
From lead and copper 90th-percentile results reported to EPA.
Highest results
| Water system | People | Latest 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|
| Great Basin Water Company | 12,255 | 26.4 ppm |
| Dade Juvenile Residential Facility Water System | 75 | 24 ppm |
| MCWA – Geneva | 8,532 | 13 ppm |
| Country Acres MHP (La Salle County) | 222 | 11.1 ppm |
| Homer Village-Newton Water Works | 4,368 | 11 ppm |
| NPS Boulder Beach | 690 | 8.5 ppm |
| Marshall Water System | 7,088 | 7.85 ppm |
| Culvers Hill – North Webster Water System | 75 | 7.5 ppm |
| Fcwwd 41/Shaver Lake Water System | 2,859 | 6.8 ppm |
| Nantahala Village Water System | 132 | 6.7 ppm |
| Paradise Pt-Rocky Point Water System | 111 | 6.6 ppm |
| Scales Creek Golf Course Water System | 108 | 6.52 ppm |
| Gordon Water System | 2,291 | 6.48 ppm |
| Gibson Mills Subdivision | 25 | 6 ppm |
| City of Greenville (Airbase) | 30 | 5.99 ppm |
| Why Dwid Water System | 400 | 5.86 ppm |
| New Freedom Borough Water Authority | 4,464 | 5.8 ppm |
| Woodside WA Water System | 45 | 5.23 ppm |
| Mushroom Farm Water System | 172 | 5.16 ppm |
| Lakeside Water Supply 3 | 123 | 5.07 ppm |
| West Nottingham Academy Water System | 250 | 4.95 ppm |
| Town of Spring Hope | 1,312 | 4.94 ppm |
| 322 Roosevelt Trail Water System | 46 | 4.93 ppm |
| Hi Roc Shores Association | 655 | 4.9 ppm |
| Emington Water System | 101 | 4.69 ppm |
States with the most detections
- Illinois: 89
- New York: 67
- California: 65
- North Carolina: 64
- Minnesota: 64
- Pennsylvania: 50
- Texas: 42
- Alaska: 42
- Nebraska: 35
- Georgia: 32
- Louisiana: 29
- Kansas: 29
Sources
The limits, health goals and health effects on this page come from these EPA sources. The results come from EPA's monitoring data for each water system.
- EPA: Basic information about lead in drinking water
- EPA: Lead and Copper Rule Improvements
- EPA: National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (limits and health effects table)
- EPA ECHO: Safe Drinking Water Information System data
This page summarizes public regulatory information. It is not medical advice. How we source and check this site.
Questions
What is the safe level of Copper in drinking water?
There is no federal legal limit. Action level (90th percentile): 1.3 ppm. EPA's health goal (MCLG), the level with no known risk, is 1.3 ppm.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.