Process and apparatus for use with copper containing components providing low copper concentrations portable water

Abstract

A process for annealing copper or copper-containing components, such as copper tubing, and/or for selecting copper with an appropriate grain size, such that potable water in contact with the properly treated and/or selected copper, has substantially decreased copper emissions, and may comply with ANSI/NSF 61. In one preferred embodiment, an ANSI/NSF 61 -compliant water cooler may be constructed using a storage tank with wrapped copper water tubing treated and/or selected in this manner. The storage tank is preferably designed from non-copper components.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.