Is my tap water safe to drink in Connecticut?

It depends on your ZIP code and who lives in your home. CheckYourTap analyzes 120+ contaminants in your local water supply and shows which ones exceed health guidelines — not just legal limits. Many contaminants are legal but still pose health risks, especially for babies, pregnant women, elderly, and pets.

What contaminants are in Connecticut tap water?

Connecticut tap water commonly contains disinfection byproducts (haloacetic acids, trihalomethanes), lead from aging pipes, PFAS (forever chemicals), nitrates, arsenic, and radionuclides like radium. The specific contaminants and levels vary by water system — enter your ZIP code to see your local results.

How does CheckYourTap differ from EWG or other water quality databases?

CheckYourTap is the only water quality report personalized for your household composition. Tell us who lives in your home — babies, children, pregnant women, elderly, dogs, or cats — and we calculate adjusted safe levels for each person. A contaminant safe for adults may exceed guidelines for infants by 8x or more.

Is CheckYourTap free?

Yes, CheckYourTap is completely free. Enter your Connecticut ZIP code and household members to get a personalized water quality report with health risk assessments for 120+ contaminants.

Does CheckYourTap cover well water in Connecticut?

Yes. CheckYourTap covers both city water (public water systems) and private well water in Connecticut. Well water reports use USGS groundwater data and include geology-based risk factors for arsenic, uranium, and radon specific to your area.

Inorganics

Copper in Connecticut Drinking Water

Copper has been detected in water systems serving 13,906 ZIP codes nationwide. Here is what you need to know about copper in your drinking water and how it may affect your household.

What Is Copper?

Copper enters drinking water primarily through corrosion of copper pipes and plumbing fittings, especially in homes with acidic or low-mineral water. The EPA action level is 1.3 milligrams per liter, measured at the consumer's tap. Short-term exposure above this level causes gastrointestinal distress, while chronic ingestion can lead to liver and kidney damage. Infants and individuals with Wilson's disease are particularly vulnerable.

Is Copper in Your Water?

Enter your Connecticut ZIP code to find out if copper is in your local water — and see personalized health risks for your household.

Check Your ZIP Code

Health Effects of Copper

Short-term: gastrointestinal distress, nausea, vomiting. Long-term: liver and kidney damage. Wilson's disease patients and infants are especially vulnerable to copper toxicity.

Safety Guidelines

Health Guideline

0.3 mg/L

Source: EWG

Legal Limit (MCL)

1.3 mg/L

EPA Maximum Contaminant Level

Where Does Copper Come From?

Corrosion of household copper plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; wood preservatives; industrial discharge.

How to Reduce Copper in Your Water

1Install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for copper reduction, which removes over 95% of dissolved copper.
2Use an activated carbon block filter or KDF (kinetic degradation fluxion) filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for copper reduction.
3Run cold water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes after periods of non-use to flush copper that has leached from pipes while water sat stagnant.
4If your water is acidic (pH below 7.0), consider installing an acid-neutralizing calcite filter at the point of entry to raise pH and reduce corrosive conditions.

Who Is Most Vulnerable to Copper?

The safe level of copper varies significantly depending on who is drinking the water. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for each member of your household:

Infants (under 1 year)

Toddlers (1-3 years)

Children (4-11 years)

Pregnant women

Elderly (65+)

Adults

Dogs

Cats

A contaminant level that is safe for an adult may exceed guidelines for an infant by 4-8x or more. Check your ZIP code to see personalized results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Copper in my tap water?▾

Copper has been detected in water systems across 13,906 ZIP codes. Whether it's in your specific water depends on your local water system. Enter your CT ZIP code at CheckYourTap.com for a free, instant report.

What level of Copper is safe?▾

The safe level depends on who is drinking the water. The health guideline is 0.3 mg/L, but infants, pregnant women, and pets may need much lower levels. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for 11 different household member types.

How do I remove Copper from my water?▾

Install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for copper reduction, which removes over 95% of dissolved copper. Use an activated carbon block filter or KDF (kinetic degradation fluxion) filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for copper reduction. For a personalized consultation, contact Valiant Energy Solutions at (475) 557-5107.

Related Contaminants

Nitrate Lead Barium Fluoride Nitrate-Nitrite

Check Water Quality by ZIP Code

Hartford 06103 New Haven 06510 Bridgeport 06604 Stamford 06901 Waterbury 06702 Norwalk 06850 Danbury 06810 Manchester 06040 View all cities →

View all contaminants in Connecticut water

About This Report

This water quality report is compiled from public records filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state health departments, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Contaminant levels are evaluated against EPA federal standards and health-based guidelines from leading environmental and public health organizations. CheckYourTap is a service of Valiant Energy Solutions, a Connecticut water quality and energy services company established in 1930.

EPA SDWISUSGS NWISEWG Tap Water DatabaseCA OEHHA Public Health GoalsWHO Drinking Water Guidelines

Last updated March 2026