Using Shower Filters To Remove Copper – Which One Is Best?


Shower filters remove copper from water via adsorption (activated charcoal filter) or by an electrochemical redox reaction (KDF media). KDF media is the more effective of the two. However, both filters are often used together for maximum filtration of copper and other waterborne contaminants.

Copper is a naturally occurring metal that can enter our water through plumbing pipes. Given the various side effects of the metal, it is important to know that only some shower filters are able to remove copper from water.

This article explains how certain types of shower filters are able to remove copper. We also recommend four shower filters that can protect you from the harmful effects of copper on your skin and health.

Sources of Copper in Water

Copper (or Cu) is a natural, malleable (bendable) metal that primarily occurs in the Earth’s soil, rock, and sediments.

It is also found in water and air, but usually in very tiny amounts.

Copper is best known for being an effective conductor of heat and electricity, and is frequently used in wiring, plumbing, construction of buildings, and industrial machinery.

There are two main ways that copper enters your shower water:

1. Copper Plumbing Pipes

  • Copper metal has been a standard foundation in plumbing for years because it is durable, lightweight, fire-resistant, and eco-friendly.
  • However, old copper pipes gradually start decomposing and leach copper ions in the process, which then easily enter the water.

2. Corrosion

  • Several factors corrode plumbing in the home. Low-quality building materials, incorrect installation of pipes, a high water flow rate, excessively high concentration of sediments or water contaminants, and high levels of dissolved oxygen can easily corrode copper pipes.
  • The corrosion leaches copper ions and copper oxides from the pipes into the passing water.

Effects Of Copper In Shower Water

Copper has several health benefits and is widely used in medicines to treat copper deficiency, anemia, acne, Alzheimer’s, and dental problems. However, how it is used in medicine is very specific. The concentration of medicinal copper is also far too low to cause negative health effects.

Unfortunately, when you’re exposed to high copper concentrations in your drinking water (or shower water), it can lead to a series of negative health complications.

Tiny amounts of copper in shower water are not thought to pose a significant health risk.

For people who are allergic to copper, it can lead to itching and red marks on the skin. In severe cases, copper can also present as yellow pigmentation of the skin.

It’s important to know that copper, in its original metal form, cannot pass through our skin. But, when it’s in the form of copper ions and oxides (as a result of corrosion and rust), it can enter our bodies via the skin.

Apart from that, shower water can eventually get into your gastro intestinal tract as you breath it in, which can potentially lead to symptoms of copper toxicity, such as:

  • Diarrhea
  • Hematemesis (blood in vomiting)
  • Low blood pressure
  • Gastro intestinal distress (abdominal pain, diarrhea, melena)
  • Headaches
  • Kidney failure
  • Liver damage
  • Cognitive damage

Copper toxicity usually only occurs in people who are allergic to the metal. However, anyone exposed chronically (over long periods of time) to water or food contaminated with copper can experience it.

While there is no specific limit in the amount of copper acceptable in shower water, 1,300 micrograms of copper in drinking water is considered a health concern. Due to the risk of swallowing water, copper levels in bathing or showering water should also be kept below this range.

Types of Shower Filters

There are two main types of filters used for water purification in showers:

1. Activated Carbon Filter

When pure carbon is heated and treated with oxygen, it becomes activated and is called an activated charcoal filter. This form of carbon is highly porous and adsorbs many contaminants.

Contaminants are trapped within the carbon pores (holes) and onto the surface of the activated carbon.

2. KDF or Redox Media

KDF, or ‘Kinetic Degradation Fluxion’, is a shower filter that uses redox (oxidation and reduction) reactions to remove waterborne contaminants.

The filter media is made of pure copper-zinc granules that undergo an electrochemical process to exchange electrons with pollutants. This neutralizes the toxicity of original elements.

KDF filters are mainly used to remove chlorine, iron, hydrogen sulfide, lead, algae, fungi, and some other impurities like mercury, magnesium, and calcium carbonate.

Since KDF media are effective against algae, fungi, bacteria, molds, and other germs, they are often used in combination with carbon filters for longevity and enhanced performance of the latter.

Which one removes more copper?

Now, these two types of shower filters are both capable of removing copper. However, activated charcoal can take longer (3 to 5 days) in comparison to the redox filter to reduce equal amounts of copper via adsorption.

This means if you want a shower filter that can remove copper, a KDF filter is the way to go.

Redox or KDF media, KDF 55 (as well as KDF 8s and KDF-C, which is less effective in comparison) can quickly remove positively-charged, dissolved ions of metals like copper with over 98% efficiency.

NSF Certification

NSF is a label that indicates a product has been tested and approved by independent and authorized organisations to remove certain contaminants.

Each NSF certification has a number that corresponds to a specific contaminant. Filters certified under NSF/ANSI 53 can reduce copper to below 1,300 ppb (1.3 mg/L). While it is preferred filters carry the NSF 53 certification, it’s not common to find this in shower filters (it’s more common with drinking water filters).

Best Shower Filters For Copper Removal

Note, there are no shower filters that specifically state they remove copper, but the following four brands effectively remove heavy metals (and copper is a heavy metal).

1. AquaBliss Revitalizing Shower Filter

The first brand on our list is AquaBliss, which produce 4 types of shower filters – all of which are effective at removing heavy metals such as copper. You’re better off getting either the SF500 (pictured), SF400 or SF220 filter model as these are more effective at removing heavy metals than the SF100.

These AquaBliss filters use a multi-stage filtration system made of sediment filters, redox media, activated charcoal, calcium sulfate, and ceramic beads. The combination removes minerals, heavy metals, odorous contaminants, and other impurities in the water, ensuring healthy skin, nails, and hair.

2. Crystal Quest Shower Filter Chrome

The Crystal Quest Shower Filter removes a suite of contaminants including heavy metals, iron oxides (rust), chlorine and chloramines, hydrogen sulfide, VOCs, dust, and mineral sediments. It is one of the most advanced shower filtration systems on the market!

3. Aquasana AQ-4100-E WaterSense Certified Deluxe Shower Water Filter System

The next filter on our list is Aquasana AQ-4100-E WaterSense Certified Shower Water Filter System.

The WaterSense filter removes heavy metals, copper, lead, chlorine, VOCs, pesticides, and other pollutants, balances the water pH, and allows you to enjoy a healthy, relaxing shower.

4. SimplyAquaPura Shower Filter

The SimplyAquaPura Shower Filter is a 10-stage shower filter has a KDF-55 filter that reduces heavy metals, iron oxide (rust), chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, dirt and sediment with over 95% efficiency.

2 Ways To Remove Copper From Drinking Water

1. Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a filtration system made of thin linings (RO membranes). These films typically have three layers, a polyester support web, a polysulfone interlayer, and a polyamide barrier.

The semi-permeable barrier removes copper and other unwanted contaminants from drinking water.

2. Carbon Cartridges

Carbon cartridges are made of activated charcoal that adsorbs copper (as well as other impurities), allowing only clean water to pass through.

The best way to remove copper from your drinking water is using a reverse osmosis system that has an activated charcoal cartridge.

Theresa Orr

Theresa Orr is an Earth Scientist who specializes in determining past climates from rocks using geochemistry. Her passion for clean water drives her to breakdown the science to provide easy to understand information that everyone can read.

Recent Posts