Well Water Nerd

Copper in Vermont well water

In Vermont, 0% of 23 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.

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.