Three key reasons why copper has superior health benefits
1. "Copper has the unique ability to reduce the threat of waterborne bacterial disease."
Copper has been shown to provide better control of waterborne bacteria than plastic pipes.
Previous studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial behaviour of copper and the inhibitory effect of copper piping on bacteria and viruses.
Controlled laboratory tests have shown that copper pipework inhibits certain viruses and bacteria. Examples include; Poliovirus, E. coli O157 and Legionella pneumophila.
Poliovirus type 1 was reduced by 97% and poliovirus type 2 by 96% with "aged" copper pipework. In the "new" copper tubes, 80% of poliovirus type 2 was eliminated within 3 hours. The virus was completely eliminated within 24 hours.
Studies have also shown that copper piping inhibits the growth of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis and the phage MS2, which causes gastrointestinal disturbances.
High concentrations of copper in water are not needed to reduce viruses. Stagnant water in copper tubes overnight was found to leach only 0.6 mg of copper per litre of water, which is significantly lower than the WHO guideline value.
2. "Copper reduces the growth of bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease"
Copper is ten times more effective than PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) in controlling Legionella pneumophila (a cause of Legionnaires' disease)
A new study conducted by KIWA, the Dutch Institute for Water Quality, modelled domestic use of different hot water systems over a period of less than a year. The results show that the concentration of legionella in water from copper pipes is ten times lower than from cross-linked polyethylene pipes (PEX).
3. "Leaching of plastic chemicals into drinking water"
Unlike copper pipes, plastic products can cause many undesirable chemicals to leach into drinking water.
Manufacturers have their own undisclosed formulas for plastic pipe recipes. (i.e. you don't know what you're getting). There is no universal control over the ingredients and there is the potential for harmful substances to leach out of pipes in use.
The metals in copper pipes are simple and definable and have been tested to meet international standards.
Health effects of chemicals leaching from plastic pipes include liver and kidney effects, as well as adverse health outcomes, endocrine disruption and/or carcinogenicity to the reproductive, developmental, immune and nervous systems.
"Academic Review" indicates;
Many of the chemicals in polymer pipe have the potential to migrate from the pipe into drinking water. Depending on the materials/resins used in manufacture and extrusion, different locations/environmental conditions and usage patterns, migration may vary significantly from pipe to pipe.
Some of the possible health effects of leachate have been studied in animals and/or humans.
Most of the components or additives in plastic pipework have not been monitored and/or evaluated toxicologically. Chemical compounds are not usually measured at the tap and the potential for additive or synergistic adverse health effects on site has not been well characterised. Health and water authorities may not even be aware of the potential risks, especially to sensitive populations.
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