Fluoride
Heber Springs Water System
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 | 0.755 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.640 ppm - 0.920 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.805 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.710 ppm - 0.970 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.776 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.670 ppm - 0.890 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.747 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.660 ppm - 0.820 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.731 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.480 ppm - 0.950 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.652 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.450 ppm - 0.730 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-06 | 140160010 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2014-02-03 | 140410018 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2014-03-03 | 140690001 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2014-04-02 | 141040012 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2014-05-01 | 141320004 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2014-06-04 | 141670006 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2014-07-03 | 141950007 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2014-08-05 | 142240002 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2014-09-08 | 142580038 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2014-10-01 | Y142790003 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2014-11-03 | Y143110033 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2014-11-04 | Y143100044 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2014-12-01 | Y143420022 | 0.920 ppm |
| 2015-01-05 | Y150130034 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2015-02-02 | Y150400026 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2015-03-03 | Y150690011 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2015-04-01 | Y151030024 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2015-05-04 | Y151340029 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2015-06-01 | Y151550061 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2015-07-01 | Y151950009 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2015-08-05 | Y152260044 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2015-09-02 | Y152580009 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2015-10-02 | Y152850004 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2015-10-22 | Y152950003 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2015-11-02 | Y153130009 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2015-12-02 | Y153410019 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2016-01-06 | Y160120005 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2016-02-02 | Y160400023 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2016-03-01 | Y160680005 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2016-04-01 | Y161040009 | 0.890 ppm |
| 2016-05-05 | Y161300019 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2016-06-02 | Y161650003 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2016-07-05 | Y161930014 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2016-08-02 | Y162210022 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2016-09-02 | Y162560007 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2016-10-06 | Y162880091 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2016-10-17 | Y162940007 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2016-11-03 | Y163140025 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2016-12-01 | Y163420015 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2017-01-03 | Y170100024 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-02-14 | Y170480022 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2017-03-01 | Y170720034 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2017-04-03 | Y171000033 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-05-01 | Y171280021 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2017-06-01 | Y171630014 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2017-07-05 | Y171910037 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2017-08-01 | Y172260009 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-09-06 | Y172610004 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2017-10-03 | Y172820037 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-10-24 | Y172990001 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2017-11-01 | Y173100021 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2017-12-04 | Y173450057 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-01-05 | Y180180026 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2018-02-02 | Y180370028 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2018-03-02 | Y180660008 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | Y180990006 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-05-03 | Y181310002 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2018-06-01 | Y181620004 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2018-07-03 | Y181900028 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2018-08-01 | Y182190018 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-09-04 | Y182530027 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2018-10-01 | Y182770005 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-10-02 | Y182810022 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2018-11-05 | Y183170022 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | Y183440020 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2019-01-02 | Y190070006 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2019-02-05 | Y190500035 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2019-03-04 | Y190700013 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-04-03 | Y190980044 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2019-05-02 | Y191260030 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | Y191610035 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2019-07-01 | Y191890001 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2019-08-05 | Y192250025 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-09-03 | Y192540014 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2019-10-01 | Y192880030 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2019-10-02 | Y192760005 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2019-11-04 | Y193180012 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2019-12-02 | Y193430008 | 0.730 ppm |