Acidic Well Water And Copper Pipe

This article discusses the health effects of dissolved copper in drinking water and the relation between aggressive or corrosive water and high levels of copper.

Acidic well water and copper pipe.

These contraptions utilize calcite calcium carbonate to increase water s ph acidic water is fed into a calcite filled tank and run through the mineral which dissolves and raises the ph. Aggressive corrosive low ph water acidic water can cause high levels of copper in the drinking water supply. Copper can get into drinking water either by directly contaminating well water or through corrosion of copper pipes if your water is acidic. Pure water has a ph of 7 0 neutral.

Corrosion of pipes is by far the greatest cause for concern. Signs of acid water are corrosion of fixtures pinhole leaks blue staining from copper pipes or rust staining from iron pipes. Acidic water with a ph of 7 or less can be hard on copper pipe. Note that most city water even in areas of the country where the water is acidic is balanced to.

However natural unpolluted rainwater has a ph of about 5 6 acidic. Blue corrosion on copper pipes and in plumbing systems is due to physical and chemical reactions between the pipe material and water. The main causes of pipe corrosion are. Pipes used to distribute drinking water are made of plastic concrete or metal e g steel galvanized steel ductile iron copper or aluminum.

If you have a well and find out from testing that the water is acidic you may want to use the thicker wall type l pipe. Causes of corrosion in water system pipes. Common causes for acidic water are acid rainfall due to atmospheric carbon dioxide and other airborne pollutants runoff from mining spoils and decomposition of plant materials. Corrosivity or acidity of water.

Copper contamination in drinking water corrosive water copper pipe health hazards. Low ph acid water typically found on private well water but is also present in some small municipal water systems. Better yet use plastic cpvc pipe and fittings. Some neutralizers use magnesium oxide instead of calcite to the same effect.

Copper pipes are safe unless the water in it is overly acidic or alkaline. How can i find out whether there is copper in my drinking water. Metal pipe corrosion is a continuous and variable process of ion release from the pipe into. Common causes for acidic well water are from acid rainfall due to atmospheric carbon dioxide and other airborne pollutants and in some cases runoff from mines.

Corrosive water is responsible for health effects of increased lead copper or other contaminants in drinking water and corrosive water in building plumbing heating systems is also responsible for costly leak damage. Most municipal water has a balanced ph between 6 5 and 8 which is a safe range for copper pipes. Plastic and concrete pipes tend to be resistant to corrosion. Acidic water is typically best treated by an acid neutralizer.