Fluoride
Forrest City Waterworks
Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems. Read More.
Fluoride has been promoted as a chemical that reduces dental cavities. Yet it is now well-established that fluoride primarily exerts its protective effects through topical mechanisms, such as sodium fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. In contrast, long-term ingestion of fluoride in water increases dental fluorosis, which includes mottling, pitting and weakening of the teeth. EPA's maximum legal limit is set at 4 parts per million (ppm) to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a condition where bones become brittle and more susceptible to fractures, although these effects may occur at lower doses.
Even fluoride levels of 0.7 ppm, the amount of fluoride in drinking water recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service, can result in too much fluoride for bottle-fed babies. EWG recommends that caregivers mix baby formula with fluoride-free water. The National Toxicology Program is investigating the potential for low doses of fluoride to alter thyroid function and childhood brain development.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.682 ppm | 23 | 22 | ND - 0.930 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.751 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.430 ppm - 0.950 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.813 ppm | 30 | 30 | 0.590 ppm - 2.57 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.828 ppm | 28 | 28 | 0.640 ppm - 1.21 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.784 ppm | 25 | 25 | 0.400 ppm - 0.970 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.852 ppm | 28 | 28 | 0.730 ppm - 1.07 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 4 ppm
ppm = parts per million
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-10 | 140160042 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2014-01-10 | 140160043 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2014-02-06 | 140490020 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-02-06 | 140490021 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2014-03-05 | 140760024 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2014-03-05 | 140760025 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-04-03 | 141040017 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2014-04-03 | 141040018 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2014-04-23 | 141140012 | ND |
| 2014-05-06 | 141320041 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2014-05-06 | 141320040 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2014-06-06 | 141670022 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2014-06-06 | 141670023 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2014-07-16 | 142110003 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2014-07-16 | 142110004 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-08-15 | 142370017 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2014-08-15 | 142370015 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2014-09-03 | 142580027 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2014-09-03 | 142580026 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2014-10-06 | Y142860030 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2014-10-06 | Y142860032 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2014-12-08 | Y143490023 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2014-12-08 | Y143490024 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2015-01-16 | Y150260014 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2015-01-16 | Y150260015 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2015-02-27 | Y150750019 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2015-02-27 | Y150750018 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2015-03-16 | Y150820023 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2015-03-16 | Y150820024 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2015-04-10 | Y151110042 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2015-04-10 | Y151110041 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2015-05-05 | Y151340039 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2015-05-05 | Y151340040 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2015-06-11 | Y151740007 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2015-06-11 | Y151740008 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-07-14 | Y152020024 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2015-07-14 | Y152020032 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2015-08-12 | Y152360010 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2015-08-12 | Y152360011 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2015-09-18 | Y152710010 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2015-09-18 | Y152710011 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | Y152990019 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2015-10-14 | Y152990018 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2015-11-03 | Y153130043 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2015-11-03 | Y153130044 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2015-12-08 | Y153520010 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2015-12-08 | Y153520011 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2016-01-11 | Y160200020 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2016-01-11 | Y160200021 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2016-02-09 | Y160470030 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2016-02-09 | Y160470031 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2016-02-16 | Y160490004 | 2.57 ppm |
| 2016-02-16 | Y160490006 | 1.01 ppm |
| 2016-03-10 | Y160810042 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2016-03-10 | Y160810043 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2016-03-28 | Y160950014 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2016-04-05 | Y161040039 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2016-04-05 | Y161040042 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2016-04-20 | Y161160033 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2016-05-02 | Y161300016 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2016-05-02 | Y161300017 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2016-06-13 | Y161790040 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2016-06-13 | Y161790041 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2016-07-06 | Y161930013 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2016-07-08 | Y162000007 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2016-07-08 | Y162000008 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2016-08-03 | Y162280015 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2016-08-03 | Y162280016 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2016-09-14 | Y162700010 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2016-09-14 | Y162700011 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2016-10-03 | Y162880060 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2016-10-04 | Y162880098 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2016-10-04 | Y162880100 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2016-11-21 | Y163340007 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2016-11-21 | Y163340009 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2016-12-13 | Y163640003 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2016-12-13 | Y163640004 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2017-01-09 | Y170120066 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2017-01-09 | Y170120067 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2017-02-08 | Y170460026 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2017-02-08 | Y170460028 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-03-13 | Y170860020 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2017-03-17 | Y170860019 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2017-04-03 | Y170960007 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2017-04-03 | Y171000027 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2017-04-19 | Y171210004 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2017-04-19 | Y171210005 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2017-05-24 | Y171560001 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2017-05-24 | Y171560002 | 1.21 ppm |
| 2017-06-05 | Y171770012 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2017-06-05 | Y171770013 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2017-07-03 | Y171910035 | 1.03 ppm |
| 2017-07-14 | Y172050059 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2017-07-14 | Y172050060 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2017-08-03 | Y172260046 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2017-08-03 | Y172260047 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2017-09-25 | Y172760021 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2017-09-25 | Y172760022 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2017-10-03 | Y172820048 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2017-10-18 | Y173030013 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2017-10-18 | Y173030014 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2017-11-15 | Y173380008 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2017-11-15 | Y173380009 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2017-12-07 | Y173540042 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2017-12-18 | Y173540041 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-01-03 | Y180180008 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2018-01-03 | Y180180009 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2018-02-07 | Y180520014 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2018-02-07 | Y180520015 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2018-02-26 | Y180660001 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2018-03-07 | Y180720018 | 0.920 ppm |
| 2018-03-07 | Y180720019 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2018-04-11 | Y181070035 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2018-04-11 | Y181070036 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2018-05-09 | Y181340054 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2018-05-09 | Y181340053 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2018-06-19 | Y181760061 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2018-06-19 | Y181760060 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2018-07-24 | Y182320027 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2018-07-24 | Y182320028 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-08-20 | Y182400025 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2018-08-20 | Y182400024 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2018-09-20 | Y182890041 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2018-09-20 | Y182890040 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-10-17 | Y182950035 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-10-17 | Y182950036 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2018-11-13 | Y183300026 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-11-13 | Y183300027 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2018-12-11 | Y183510035 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2018-12-11 | Y183510036 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2019-01-14 | Y190220026 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2019-01-14 | Y190220027 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2019-01-14 | Y190170006 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2019-01-14 | Y190170007 | 0.890 ppm |
| 2019-02-27 | Y190770006 | 0.890 ppm |
| 2019-02-27 | Y190770005 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2019-03-27 | Y190910018 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2019-03-27 | Y190910017 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | Y191260004 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2019-04-25 | Y191260005 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2019-05-29 | Y191610004 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2019-05-29 | Y191610005 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2019-06-25 | Y191820017 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2019-06-25 | Y191820018 | 0.990 ppm |
| 2019-07-23 | Y192100028 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2019-07-23 | Y192100029 | 1.07 ppm |
| 2019-08-21 | Y192530003 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2019-08-21 | Y192530004 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2019-09-25 | Y192820010 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2019-09-25 | Y192820009 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2019-10-01 | Y192880012 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2019-10-01 | Y192880013 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2019-10-24 | Y193090004 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2019-10-24 | Y193090005 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2019-11-14 | Y193290009 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2019-11-14 | Y193290008 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2019-12-04 | Y193640002 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2019-12-04 | Y193640003 | 0.770 ppm |