| Copper can enter your tap water due to pollution, | | | | your tap water leaving a bluish-green stain on your |
| the leaching of stones and rocks that contain copper, | | | | sink?--or just by tasting the water--does the water |
| runoff from pesticides or fertilizers and from the | | | | have a metallic taste to it, sort of like the taste of |
| corrosion of copper pipes and other copper plumbing | | | | licking a penny? Remember, too, that the presence |
| fixtures. | | | | of copper in your water can indicate the presence of |
| How do you know if you have too much copper in | | | | lead as well, which is even more dangerous to your |
| your tap water? You could have a sample of your | | | | health. And if you do have too much copper in your |
| drinking water tested by a lab. You could also call | | | | water, you can get rid of it by boiling all your tap |
| your local water treatment company to see if their | | | | water or by installing a water purifying system in |
| water has elevated levels of copper. By law they | | | | your home. |
| have to have their water tested for copper | | | | Getting rid of excess copper in your water is a good |
| periodically and they have to tell you the results of | | | | idea because even though your body will excrete |
| those tests. Sometimes you can tell if your water | | | | about half of it, the other half will gather in your liver |
| has too much copper just by looking at your sink--is | | | | and your kidneys and can do some real damage. |