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Corrosive well water not only ruins copper pipe, plumbing and fixtures, it can also cause heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and copper to contaminate drinking water as the household pipes corrode.

Well water chemistry varies widely between wells and if corrosion is suspected, a simple water test can pinpoint what is making the water corrosive. Acidity in water is expressed by the pH scale, which ranges from 1 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, with less than 7.0 being acidic and greater than 7.0 being alkaline. In addition to pH, alkalinity, calcium carbonate, total dissolved solids and temperature are measured and can quickly show if acidity is the main cause of the corrosion.

Iron is one of the most common elements in the Earth’s crust, so it is no surprise it finds it way into many home well waters. The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for iron set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency is 0.3 ppm. This can also be expressed as 0.3 milligrams per liter of water. In concentrations above 0.3 ppm, iron in water can cause staining of fixtures and porcelain, ruin laundry, and make the water taste terrible.

Acidic water is common in home water wells and can cause corrosion to piping, fixtures and appliances. Water that has a pH of less than 7.0 is considered to be acidic. The acid water pH can be neutralized to 7 or above by the use of an acid neutralizer tank, which allows calcium and magnesium carbonates to dissolve in the water. This eliminates the corrosive effect the water has on plumbing and fixtures.

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, coliform bacteria are common in the environment and are often not harmful in of themselves. However, the presence of these bacteria in well water or spring water can indicate that the water may be contaminated with disease-causing agents such as parasites, viruses or bacteria. Since testing for pathogens such as the bacteria, protozoa, and viruses that make people sick can be difficult, total coliform bacteria are tested for instead. Total coliforms are indicators and are more common and easy to grow.

According to some estimates, corrosion costs the United States more than $1 billion every year. Besides actual piping failure and pinhole leaks, copper corrosion leaves blue stains on sinks, tubs, fixtures, laundry and hair.

Corrosion can also make the water unfit for drinking. Copper can be toxic and water containing levels over 1.0 mg/L should not be used for drinking.

The main causes of copper corrosion are:

Low pH (acid water less than 7.0) or high pH (alkaline water greater than 8.5)

High levels of dissolved oxygen

High levels of salts dissolved in the water (total dissolved solids)