1. "Copper has the unique ability to reduce the threat of waterborne bacterial disease."


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"

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