Protecting National Water Resources: A Call to Ban Copper Sulfate for Use in America's Ponds and Lakes

Protecting National Water Resourcesrivers and streams, any effort to lessen the problem
The purpose of this paper is to recommend ashould be taken.  This is especially important to
prohibition of the use of copper sulfate, a toxic anddownstream communities that already assume
bioaccumulative chemical, in America’s waters.additional treatment costs to make water safe and
Backgroundpotable for their residents.
Copper sulfate, a naturally occurring inorganic salt, is anContributing to Pollution
algaecide, herbicide, germicide, and fungicide and isPollutants are defined as chemical constituents present
commonly used to maintain the aesthetic appearanceat toxic levels and in bioavailable forms for a sufficient
of lakes, reservoirs, and ponds.  Being a traceperiod that they adversely affect the beneficial uses
element, its poisonous effects can be detected atof a water body.  Copper and its compounds are
levels as low as .33ppm, and its toxic potency isdesignated as pollutants, however it is the free form of
inversely related to the alkalinity and pH of water.[1]the copper II ion that is biologically available and the
Copper sulfate is typically applied on a bi-weeklymost toxic form of this substance.  It is therefore
schedule, and what does not flow out of a waterimportant in creating a control approach to differentiate
body into a receiving stream ends up binding to thebetween sources such as metallic copper from brake
underlying sediment. Here, this heavy metalpads and liners, and a wide array of ionic forms of
accumulates indefinitely, serving as a reservoir ofcopper of varying degrees of potential toxicity, the
toxicity until the sediment is disturbed and conditionsmost problematic of which is copper sulfate.  Thus,
favor its release into the environment.environmental scientists continue to emphasize the
Because of its highly caustic nature, copper sulfate hasimportance of focusing “pollutant control on those
been classified by the EPA as being in toxicity class Ichemical constituents that are significantly
– highly toxic – and requires the signal wordsimpairing…waterbody(s) within and downstream of
“DANGER – POISON” on its container.the watershed.”[12]
 Having the direct potential to disrupt photosynthesis,Residents add copper sulfate to water bodies to
and because of its toxicity to downstreamsatisfy an aesthetic desire, often without considering its
endangered species, its use requires a permit in certainpotentially harmful effects.  This is especially true for
jurisdictions and applications.[2]storm detention ponds, which are increasingly seen as
Copper sulfate’s toxicity and propensity foramenities and not as serving a specific, environmental
accumulation is leading to a burgeoning problem atfunction.  No longer should copper sulfate be
sites located throughout the US and the world. permitted at the detriment of the local and
Copper pollution is beginning to affect many coastaldownstream environments. An opportunity to remove
regions where river and storm water systemsan unnecessary, biologically available toxin from your
discharge; sites experiencing hazardously elevatedlocal water bodies presents itself without significant
levels of copper include: Delaware Bay, Chesapeakedrawbacks—and because of this, use of the copper
Bay, Naples Bay, North Miami, and Lakesulfate pollutant should be forbidden.
Pontchartrain.[3] In some cases, “[copperOn the Environmental Frontier
sulfate]…is the largest contributor to copperIn considering a ban on copper sulfate, your community
contamination.”[4]would not be unprecedented.  A number of
As the effects of copper compounds and theirjurisdictions are, or have, considered a ban on the use
persistence in coastal areas become betterof copper sulfate.  Based on data revealing that
understood, some municipalities have included in theircopper “hot spots” coincide with storm water
water resource management plans measures todischarge points in the bay, the Naples City Council will
reduce copper levels in stormwater discharge.  Theconsider a resolution in November 2008 that would
application of copper sulfate as an algaecide has alsoprohibit the use of copper sulfate as an algaecide.  In
been questioned in New York City, where authoritiesearly 2008, the City amended its budget, approving the
identified it as the primary cause of excessive copperinstallation of aerators in its stormwater retention
levels in the City’s wastewaters and harbor.[5]ponds and lakes, in place of algaecide use to control
However, in some cases, the specific regulatoryalgal blooms.13
approaches adopted have been criticized for theirAcross the ocean from Naples, the European Union
inefficiency.  San Francisco’s initiative to controlhad scheduled a complete ban on all copper based
copper contamination is estimated to have an endalgaecides because of the “effects of its use on
cost in excess of one billion dollars, primarily becausethe aquatic environment, impact on aquatic organisms,
of its inclusion of metallic copper, as well as all copperand soil accumulation.”[13] Reviewers found copper
compounds, whatever their toxicity or fate.[6] Recentsulfate “not compatible with sustainable
initiatives are taking a new direction, which is toecosystems and recommended against its use,”
improve upon water resources by targeting onlyexpressing concern about the impact it has when
volatile forms of copper, including copper sulfate.flushed into natural water bodies. [14] For these
Copper Sulfate: Detrimental to National Watersreasons, the review panel concluded that copper
Damaging Natural Habitatssulfate “should never be considered as a routine
The deleterious effects of copper sulfate on naturaland convenient treatment to handle [algal]
habitats have been widely documented. Long-termproblems.”[15]
case studies have shown that, while algae isA Call to Action
temporarily killed as intended, its decaying matterAs copper pollution becomes more widely recognized,
contributes heavily to dissolved oxygen depletion, fishmore jurisdictions will move toward legislative and
kills, and the accelerated recycling of phosphorus whichregulatory prohibitions targeting copper and its
promotes algal blooms.[7] Eventually, the naturalcompounds.  Your local community has the
balance of the water body is upset: phytoplankton, theopportunity to protect its ecosystems and preserve its
base of the food chain, are greatly reduced and novital water resources by preventing the intentional
longer support small aquatic life; sediment-dwellingapplication of copper sulfate, a toxin and pollutant, to its
insects are killed by the accumulating poison; andwaters.
plants, serving as both fish food and habitat, are killedBy limiting this ban to copper sulfate as an algaecide,
by copper sulfate’s photosynthesis disruption.rather than more broadly to other copper species,
 After a local pond’s ecosystem has beensmaller municipalities will be able to apply limited
become debilitated, the highly water-soluble residualresources in the most beneficial and cost-effective
algaecide is flushed downstream during a rain event,manner.
becoming a hazard for downstream organisms.References
Catfish, one of the Fox River’s prime game fish,1.  Iowa State University. Managing Iowa Fisheries:
are visibly stressed by concentrations as low asUse of Copper Compounds in Aquatic Systems.”
1.7ppm.  Enzyme activity in other fish increases due to2.  Extension Toxicology Network. Pesticide
stress at 2ppm, and the negative effects sufferedInformation Profiles: Copper Sulfate.
were still observable after two weeks in clean3.  Thomas O’Connor and Gunnar Lauenstein.
water.[8] Furthermore, even at suggested application“Status and trends of copper concentrations in
rates, the algaecide has been found to be lethal tomussels and oysters in the USA.” National Centers
salmonoids (e.g. salmon, trout, etc.).[9]for Coastal Ocean Science in Marine Chemistry, no. 97
Animals that ingest copper sulfate by drinking from(2005) p 49-59.
contaminated water bodies are also at risk as chronic4. 
exposures have lead to problems at levels as low as5. 
20ppm per day—commonly leading to malfunction of6. 
the endocrine gland and testes.  After consumed,7.  Mark Hanson and Heinz Stefan. “Side effects
copper sulfate is strongly bioaccumulated, primarily inof 58 years of copper sulfate treatment on the
the heart, liver, brain, kidneys, and muscles ofFairmont Lakes, Minnesota.” Journal of the
animals.[10]American Water Resources Association. Vol 2:6, pp
Detrimental to Water Quality889-900. June 2007.
As a treatment strategy, the use of copper sulfate as8.  European Union Technical Advisory Panel.
an algaecide addresses only the symptoms of the“Copper sulfate for use as an algicide and
water body’s degraded condition, not theinvertebrate pest control,” September 2001.
causes.[11] The underlying cause of the algal blooms is9.  ISU, Managing Iowa Fisheries
the urban runoff of fertilizers, detergents, and other10.  Extension, Pesticide Profiles
phosphates.  The use of copper sulfate does nothing11.  ISU, Managing Iowa Fisheries
to minimize or manage these nutrients.  In fact, as a12.  Lee, Aquatic Chemistry
germicide, it destroys the beneficial bacteria that would13.  Personal Communication and Staats, Federal
naturally break down nutrients and, as an herbicide, killsStudy
plant life that would absorb them.14.  EU, Copper Sulfate for use
When this water is released into receiving streams, it15.  Ibid.
brings with it the burden of excess nutrients and very16.  In light of these events, we have limited our
low dissolved oxygen.  Considering that nutrientrecommendation to a ban on copper sulfate
overabundance is already problematic for many  U.S.specifically for water applications.