Question: a friend wrote me to tell me that he had his water tested and the amount of copper in the water was 12.4mg/L and that the World Health Organization (WHO) has established a max amount of copper in water to not exceed 2mg/L. He is asking me what might be the cause of the very high reading such as would it be coming from his plumbing or is it possible it is contamination in his well or that his well just has an unusually high amount of copper in it?? Next, he wants to know, what is the best way to remedy this problem.
Ideas anyone? Thanks in advance for sharing the knowledge.
Replies
Gotta identify the source.
No longer remember the numbers, but I went through similar for a client. Their small blonde daughter ended up with green hair after a dip in the hot tub. The tile grout had also turned green.
First order is to test the water before it gets into the building. In my case, that was from a spring box going through plastic pipe. No copper present.
In our area, acidic water is so common that the bldg. dept. routinely recommends against use of copper pipes. That was the problem. When the copper was replaced, no more green hair.
Does your friend know the pH of his water?
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
He said the pH was 7.
Well, that shoots down one theory. Thought it was probably 6 or so. Pretty much eliminates copper pipe problem potential. Assuming he's not intentionally raising pH after the water goes through copper.
What's the water source? Well? Spring? Please don't tell me it's catchment off a copper roof...
Likely the copper is present at the source, leaving only treatment or replacement as the remedy. I didn't have to deal with that. Where is he?
Oops, reread and you said well. Leaving: where is he? Arizona? Michigan UP?
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Edited 6/23/2005 1:52 pm ET by VaTom
This is in Pennsylvania, York area. He has one of those yarn like filters instream from the line. Yes it is Well water.
He said he's been seeing blue stains on the toilet fixtures which prompted the testing in part. The Lead and Nitrate readings are within limits. There is no bacteria either, just high copper contaminates. He said the water does have a "funny" taste to it.
He did some internet research and found that stray electrical currents in the ground causes some corrosion in the copper lines (long story, dunno if the research is bogus or legit). He wants me to ground his plumbing to the ground rod to divert the stray currents to stop the reaction that he feels is causing the readings to be high.
Pretty interesting. Please keep us posted.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Exactly, test the water right from the well so you are sure whether it is in the water or in the piping.
High chlorine levels can cause copper to leach from the piping. But unless you have a chlorinator that obviously is not it.
Nope, pure Well water, no chorination.