It's generally not recommended to put silver coins directly in drinking water as a primary or secondary disinfection method.
While silver has antimicrobial properties and has been used historically to purify water, using silver coins specifically presents several issues:
- Unreliable Disinfection: The amount of silver released by coins is often inconsistent and insufficient to reliably disinfect water. Disinfection efficacy requires a specific concentration of silver ions, which can be hard to control with coins.
- Coin Composition: Modern silver coins are often alloys, containing metals like copper. Copper can leach into the water and pose health risks. The purity of the silver is also uncertain and can affect the process.
- Effectiveness Evidence: Limited evidence supports the effectiveness of using silver coins as a practical method for drinking water disinfection. The question short answer from the provided reference also states that the use of silver as a primary or secondary drinking-water disinfectant is discouraged because of limited evidence supporting efficacy.
- Alternative Silver Methods: More effective and controllable silver-based water purification methods exist, such as colloidal silver generators or silver-impregnated filters. These methods ensure a consistent and safe concentration of silver ions in the water.
- Contamination Concerns: Coins may carry contaminants from handling and their environment, introducing unwanted substances into the drinking water.
Therefore, while silver itself has antimicrobial properties, using silver coins directly in drinking water is an unreliable and potentially unsafe method for purification. Consider using more controlled and proven water purification methods.
