High copper levels found in county, school building water in Mason
MASON – Elevated levels of copper have been detected at all seven Ingham County buildings in Mason as well as in two schools, officials say.
But both county and city say the city’s water system is just fine.
County Health Officer Linda Vail attributes the high reading to old piping systems.
“It’s not huge,” Vail said Wednesday. “We’re not picking up lead in the schools or anywhere (else). We’re picking up some elevated copper levels. “They’re not excruciatingly high but at the same time they exceed EPA action limits, which means something needs to be done.”
The U.S. Environmental action level for copper is 1.3 milligrams per liter.
The highest reading of two dozen county tests, officials said, was 2.94 mg/l at the Hilliard Building on Maple Street — more than twice the EPA maximum. That building houses parks and financial services staff among others.
Mason City Administrator Deborah Stuart said Mason and county officials will meet today to discuss the problem and possible solutions. Once actions are taken the structures will be tested again.
Both Stuart and Vail stressed that Mason's water is safe and residents needn't worry
"We have tested our water throughout the system and we have determined at this point we have no reason to think there's copper anywhere else in the water system," Stuart said Thursday. "There may be copper at specific sites."
Stuart said the Mason school system found instances of high levels of copper at the high school and middle school. A joint news release issued Thursday by Stuart and school Superintendent Ronald Drzewicki said 16 of 29 tests showed copper levels exceeding the EPA limit. The highest reading at Mason Middle School was 2.11 mg/l and 2.14 mg/l at Mason High School.
No tests indicated high amounts of lead. Stuart called the lesser health consequences of excess copper "a very different situation."
"We are pleased that the water was safe for lead," Drzewicki said in the release. "We did not expect to be above the action level for copper at the high school and middle school."
For now, students and staff at the schools no longer will have access to the drinking fountains that tested high but will be offered bottled water.
No city buildings showed high levels, Stuart said
Vail explained the county's problem in an April 1 email to all employees. High levels of copper in water primarily are caused by corroded pipes leaching as waters enters a building, she said in the email, adding Mason’s water “does not contain copper at appreciable levels.”
As the Ingham County seat, Mason is the site of seven county buildings, including the courthouse, the Sheriff’s Office and jail, the animal shelter and the Drain Commissioner’s Office.
Amanda Darsche, a county health communications specialist, said multiple faucets were tested in each building, and every site had at least one water source came back with copper readings that exceed EPA action levels. Each sample costs the county $24, she said.
Copper in a diet is essential to maintain good health, Vail said in the email, but too much “can cause adverse health effects.”
Copper plays a key role in the development of healthy nerves, bones, collagen and the skin pigment melanin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Any access normally is excreted through bile — a substance produced in the liver.
The accumulation of too much copper in the liver, according to the clinic's website, can lead to complications such as liver scarring, liver failure, persistent neurological problems, kidney issues and psychological problems.
Vail said there’s no need for county employees to bring bottled water to work. Water resting in plumbing lines for six hours or more will have the greatest risk for elevated levels, and all users have to do is let the faucet run for a minute. Readings are taken from the "first draw" of a water source and the levels usually drop after that, she said.
“Run the water until it’s cold,” Vail said. “Don’t use hot water for making things like baby formula.”