Turquoise water

[Annemieke]

We get our water from a spring. Underneath the taps, our bath has turned a beautiful turquoise over the years. What mineral might cause this?
Thanks! Annemieke Wigmore, http://thoughtforfood-aw.blogspot.com

[GeorgeSalt]

Could be copper - it forms a greeny-blue verdigris on oxidation, and a number of different shades of blue as compounds with other elements.

[diggernotdreamer]

My nanny had this in her bath in the 60's. Is this caused by the water itself or the taps? If there is copper in the water I wonder if you would taste it, have you ever had your water tested? we have spring water which is a new thing to me, we just used to get water that had been through 10 other people. it sometimes goes brown which we now believe to be peat from the bog down the bottom of our land

[marshlander]

Yes, I immediately thought copper too!
Yours is presumeably from the spring rather than new pipes. "Copper occurs naturally in foods and the environment. In drinking water copper arises mostly as a result of copper pipes and fittings in household plumbing. This is especially true of new pipework where copper can result in blue or green staining of bathroom fittings and impart a sharp taste to water. This problem usually disappears after a short time." Source http://www.wessexwater.co.uk/water-and- ... px?id=1346

Also says safe limit 2mg per litre

You can easily buy a test kit. Fleabay etc

A Berkey Water Filter can remove 95% Expensive initially but cheaper than the rest in the long run and much, much better. They can also remove viruses,lead, arsenic and a long list of other nasties the others don't. (On my wish list, in the meantime I put up with occasional iron stains - everthing else in our borehole tests fine)

[GeorgeSalt]

I wouldn't test drinking water with a cheap Ebay kit, if you want to test yourself get one from Salifert. However, for drinking water from a spring I would personally get a laboratory test done. I think the water companies will still analyse spring water against a full panel (for a fee).

[marshlander]

Do fees vary depending on Water board - Anglian didn't charge us last time although the man did say they might. I haven't looked in detail at any tests advertised, just saw they were available.

[GeorgeSalt]

Wessex Water (local to Annemeike) don't advertise their charges, but have a page for private water source analysys - link.

[Annemieke]

We had it tested by Wessex water about twenty years ago. The main trouble was, of course, nitrate: it was borderline then, won't be any better by now ...
However, we like our water as it is. We tried some purifiers but can't really be bothered. It tastes so much better than the mains.
I expect everyone is right, it must be copper. Well, since my cancer treatment/malabsorption I have to take a copper supplement as well as many others, and if I don't take enough copper, I know it all right! So the amount we get via the water can't be too bad.
Thanks for all your answers - only just saw them, have been busy with xmas and things.
Annemieke Wigmore, http://thoughtforfood-aw.blogspot.com

[doofaloofa]

If it is copper maybe you can spray your spuds with it for blight?