Metals
Copper in U.S. tap water
392 public water systems across 44 U.S. states report Copper in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. 28 sit at or above the federal limit.
392
systems measuring
28
over the limit
44
states represented
What it is
A metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing.
Why it's regulated
Short-term exposure causes stomach distress; long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.
Federal limit1.3 mg/L· Action level
At or above the federal limit (28)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Denton, MD 2024 annual report | 1238 mg/L | 952.3× the limit |
| Oxnard, CA 2024 annual report | 790 ug/L | 790.0× the limit |
| High Point, NC 2024 annual report | 705 mg/L | 542.3× the limit |
| Fontana, CA 2024 annual report | 260 ug/L | 260.0× the limit |
| Anchorage, AK 2024 annual report | 309 mg/L | 237.7× the limit |
| Scottsdale, AZ 2024 annual report | 170 ug/L | 170.0× the limit |
| Ontario, CA 2024 annual report | 130 ug/L | 130.0× the limit |
| Hayward, CA 2024 annual report | 103 ug/L | 103.0× the limit |
| Savannah, GA 2024 annual report | 92 mg/L | 70.8× the limit |
| Atlanta, GA 2024 annual report | 90 mg/L | 69.2× the limit |
| Montgomery, AL 2024 annual report | 90 | 69.2× the limit |
| St George, UT 2024 annual report | 0–90 mg/L | 69.2× the limit |
| Wilmington, NC 2024 annual report | 90 mg/L | 69.2× the limit |
| Centennial, CO 2023 annual report | 60 ug/L | 60.0× the limit |
| Denver, CO 2023 annual report | 60 ug/L | 60.0× the limit |
| Lakewood, CO 2024 annual report | 60 ug/L | 60.0× the limit |
| Albuquerque, NM 2024 annual report | 0.28 | 28.0× the limit |
| Banks O Dee, MD 2024 annual report | 5 mg/L | 3.8× the limit |
| Bb Apartments, MD 2024 annual report | 5 mg/L | 3.8× the limit |
| Cambridge, MA 2024 annual report | 0.003–5 mg/L | 3.8× the limit |
| Ewell Waterworks Cooperative, MD 2024 annual report | 5 mg/L | 3.8× the limit |
| Glendale, AZ 2024 annual report | 147 ug/L | 1.6× the limit |
| Calvert Manor, MD 2024 annual report | 0.22 | 1.6× the limit |
| Gramercy, MD 2024 annual report | 1.69 mg/L | 1.3× the limit |
| City of Baltimore, MD 2024 annual report | 112 % | 1.2× the limit |
| Charleston, SC 2024 annual report | 90 | 1.0× the limit |
| Georgetown, TX 2024 annual report | 1.3 mg/L | 1.0× the limit |
| North Charleston, SC 2024 annual report | 90 | 1.0× the limit |
Approaching the limit (6)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| City of Hialeah, FL 2023 annual report | 1.1 mg/L | 0.8× the limit |
| City of Homestead, FL 2023 annual report | 1.1 mg/L | 0.8× the limit |
| City of North Miami Beach, FL 2023 annual report | 1.1 mg/L | 0.8× the limit |
| Miami Dade, FL 2023 annual report | 1.1 mg/L | 0.8× the limit |
| Town of Accident, MD 2024 annual report | 19–1100 ug/L | 0.8× the limit |
| Jacksonville, FL 2024 annual report | 1.04 mg/L | 0.8× the limit |
Within the federal limit (347)
| Water system | Measured |
|---|---|
| Mesquite, TX 2024 annual report | 1.03 mg/L |
| Plano, TX 2024 annual report | 1.01 mg/L |
| Chicago, IL 2023 annual report | 0–1 mg/L |
| Richardson, TX 2024 annual report | 0.9896 mg/L |
| Conroe, TX 2024 annual report | 0.37 mg/L |
| Santa Rosa, CA 2024 annual report | 0.02–0.22 mg/L |
| Clarksville, TN 2024 annual report | 0.901 mg/L |
| Joliet, IL 2024 annual report | 0.901 mg/L |
| Henderson, NV 2024 annual report | 0.86 mg/L |
| Chesapeake, VA 2023 annual report | 0.141–0.823 mg/L |
| Freedom District, MD 2024 annual report | 0–770 ug/L |
| Glendale, CA 2024 annual report | 0.76 mg/L |
| Rochester, MN 2025 annual report | 0.76 % |
| Cheltenham Youth Facility, MD 2024 annual report | 5.2–750 ug/L |
| Mckinney, TX 2024 annual report | 0.741 mg/L |
| West Covina, CA 2024 annual report | 0.74 mg/L |
| Beaches Water, MD 2024 annual report | 0.7 mg/L |
| Eastern Correctional Institute, MD 2024 annual report | 0.06–0.69 mg/L |
| Renton, WA 2024 annual report | 0.51–0.69 mg/L |
| Fishers, IN 2024 annual report | 0.66 mg/L |
| Indianapolis, IN 2024 annual report | 0.66 mg/L |
| Morgan County, IN 2024 annual report | 0.66 mg/L |
| Westfield, IN 2024 annual report | 0.66 mg/L |
| Antioch, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| City of Antioch, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| City of Brentwood, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| City of Brentwood, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| City of Martinez, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| City of Martinez, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| City of Pittsburg, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| City of Pittsburg, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| Concord, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| Diablo Water District, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| Diablo Water District, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| El Monte, CA 2024 annual report | 0.65 mg/L |
| Golden State Water Company, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| Golden State Water Company, CA 2024 annual report | 0.15 mg/L |
| San Diego, CA 2023 annual report | 0.6 mg/L |
| Colorado Springs, CO 2024 annual report | 0.551 mg/L |
| Escondido, CA 2024 annual report | 0.55 mg/L |
| Tulsa, OK 2024 annual report | 0.53 mg/L |
| Neighborhoods at St Elizabeth, MD 2024 annual report | 0.52 mg/L |
| Tallahassee, FL 2024 annual report | 0.52 mg/L |
| Green Bay, WI 2024 annual report | 0.5 mg/L |
| Orlando, FL 2024 annual report | 0.5 mg/L |
| Palm Bay, FL 2024 annual report | 0–0.49 mg/L |
| Salinas, CA 2024 annual report | 0.47 mg/L |
| League City, TX 2024 annual report | 0.464 mg/L |
| Campus Hills, MD 2024 annual report | 0.15–0.45 mg/L |
| Benedictine School, MD 2024 annual report | 0.4441 mg/L |
Showing 50 of 347. The full list is in the JSON API.
Frequently asked
+What is Copper?
A metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. Short-term exposure causes stomach distress; long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.
+What is the federal limit for Copper in drinking water?
The federal Action level for Copper is 1.3 mg/L. The EPA enforces this against the regulated reporting statistic (typically a running annual average or 90th percentile), not a single-sample spike.
+How many U.S. water systems have Copper over the federal limit?
28 of the 392 public water systems on The Water Map report Copper at or above its federal limit, spanning 44 U.S. states. The full list is on this page.
+How can I check if Copper is in my city's tap water?
Search your city on The Water Map (https://www.thewatermap.com/) or browse the list on this page. Every U.S. public water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report that lists every contaminant it measured, including Copper.