Table 5.
Summary of regulatory guidelines and recommendations for copper in drinking water
| Criteria type | Agency | Location | Cu Water Concentration (mg/L) | Specific Application | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health Goal | OEHHA | California | 0.3 | Developed based on sensitive groups | OEHHA (2008) |
| Allowable Level | US Food & Drug Administration | USA | 1 | Bottled water | US Food & Drug Administration 21 CFR 165.110 |
| Drinking Water Quality Standard | Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare | Japan | 1 | Part of waterworks law established in 1958 | Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (2004) |
| Australian Drinking Water/Aesthetics Guideline | NHMRC | Australia | 1 | endorsed 2001 | NHMRC (2011) |
| Proposed aesthetic objective | Health Canada | Canada | 1.0 | Proposed | Health Canada (2018) |
| Lead and Copper Rule | US EPA | USA | 1.3 | Action Level and MCLG | US EPA 56 FR 26460-26564 |
| Australian Drinking Water Guideline | NHMRC | Australia | 2 | endorsed 2001 | NHMRC (2011) |
| Guideline for copper content in drinking water for population with normal copper homeostasis | WHO | International | 2.0 | Guideline | WHO (2004) |
| Proposed maximum acceptable concentrations | Health Canada | Canada | 2.0 | Proposed | Health Canada (2018) |
MCLG maximum contaminant level goal, NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council, OEHHA California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment