Inorganic
Copper in your water
Is Copper in drinking water dangerous?
It depends on the level and how long you're exposed. The EPA legal limit (MCL) for Copper is 1300 ppb, but health-based goals (EPA MCLG / WHO) are often stricter, at 300 ppb. Meeting the legal limit isn't the same as zero risk — test your water to know your level.
How do you remove Copper from water?
Copper is treated by Water Softener and Reverse Osmosis. Choose a system independently certified to NSF/ANSI standards to reduce Copper, and test your water first to confirm the level.
Source: EPA MCL / MCLG; WHO guidelines; NSF/ANSI · 2026
Health effects
Copper enters tap water mainly by corroding household plumbing and fixtures. Short-term high exposure causes stomach and intestinal distress; long-term excess can harm the liver and kidneys, particularly in people with certain genetic conditions.
The health-based goal vs. the legal limit
The federal legal limit (MCL) is the maximum allowed by law. The health-based goal (EPA MCLG / WHO) is a health target — it is often stricter than the legal limit, and it is not itself a legal limit.
Health-based goal (EPA MCLG / WHO)
300 ppb
Federal legal limit (MCL)
1300 ppb
Source: EPA MCL / MCLG; WHO guidelines · 2026
Not affiliated with or endorsed by EWG.
What removes Copper
Ion exchange
Water Softener
Swaps the calcium and magnesium that cause hard water for sodium — so scale stops forming.
Look for: NSF/ANSI 44 certification
How it works→Semipermeable membrane filtration
Reverse Osmosis
Pushes water through a fine membrane that removes the dissolved solids most filters miss.
Look for: NSF/ANSI 58 certification
How it works→- 1
See your Water Score
Free, instant, no signup.
- 2
Get your custom fix-it plan
Exactly what your water needs.
- 3
Book your free 30-min test
No upfront cost, no obligation to buy.
Is Copper in your water?
Check your city's public record, then book a free 30-minute test to confirm what's in your home.