Copper in Idaho well water
In Idaho, <1% of 17,910 tested private well samples exceeded the EPA limit for copper (1.3 mg/L).
Copper leaches from pipes when water is acidic. Above 1.3 mg/L it causes stomach upset, and long-term exposure can harm the liver and kidneys. Blue-green stains on fixtures are the giveaway.
Check your copper number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your Idaho well for copper
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
Affiliate links: the merchant pays us a commission and the price is the same for you. It does not change what the data above says.
Systems that remove copper
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For copper
Under-sink reverse osmosis system
under-sink or countertop, about $300
Look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification listing the contaminant you need removed.
For copper
Acid neutralizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,200
Raises pH so plumbing stops leaching lead and copper.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for copper in Idaho: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit (1.3 mg/L); counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Above EPA limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butte | 1,586 | 46% | 0 | 12.9 mg/L | |
| Shoshone | 5,296 | 99% | 0.01 | 12 mg/L | |
| Twin Falls | 695 | 82% | 0.002 | 0.25 mg/L | |
| Lemhi | 164 | 82% | 0.003 | 0.12 mg/L | |
| Lewis | 105 | 78% | 0.001 | 0.059 mg/L | |
| Caribou | 225 | 76% | 0.002 | 0.055 mg/L | |
| Teton | 93 | 72% | 0.001 | 0.1 mg/L | |
| Clearwater | 83 | 69% | 0.001 | 0.01 mg/L | |
| Cassia | 299 | 67% | 0.001 | 0.053 mg/L | |
| Blaine | 194 | 66% | 0.002 | 0.035 mg/L | |
| Gooding | 252 | 66% | 0.001 | 0.026 mg/L | |
| Fremont | 259 | 66% | 0.002 | 0.15 mg/L | |
| Custer | 173 | 61% | 0.001 | 0.051 mg/L | |
| Bingham | 430 | 61% | 0.001 | 0.306 mg/L | |
| Kootenai | 283 | 60% | 0.001 | 0.029 mg/L |
- Arco CCD, Butte County<1% of 208
- Kellogg CCD, Shoshone County<1% of 4,614
- Declo CCD, Cassia County0% of 48
- Osburn-Wallace CCD, Shoshone County0% of 592
- Filer CCD, Twin Falls County0% of 90
- Twin Falls CCD, Twin Falls County0% of 111
- St. Anthony CCD, Fremont County0% of 49
- Grace CCD, Caribou County0% of 41
- Salmon CCD, Lemhi County0% of 73
- Burley CCD, Cassia County0% of 70
- Soda Springs CCD, Caribou County0% of 87
- South and West Boundary CCD, Boundary County0% of 35
- Buhl CCD, Twin Falls County0% of 143
- Tetonia CCD, Teton County0% of 44
- Ketchum CCD, Blaine County0% of 62
- Gooding CCD, Gooding County0% of 59
- Bliss CCD, Gooding County0% of 48
- Nezperce CCD, Lewis County0% of 33
- Nez Perce CCD, Clearwater County0% of 37
- Inkom CCD, Bannock County0% of 41
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. copper counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.