Fluoride
San Jose Water Company
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 | 0.0423 ppm | 30 | 10 | ND - 0.160 ppm |
2015 | 0.135 ppm | 22 | 21 | ND - 0.170 ppm |
2016 | 0.143 ppm | 50 | 46 | ND - 0.550 ppm |
2017 | 0.166 ppm | 83 | 65 | ND - 0.790 ppm |
2018 | 0.0681 ppm | 26 | 15 | ND - 0.170 ppm |
2019 | 0.0805 ppm | 33 | 23 | ND - 0.170 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-01-07 | 1610-067-0905 | ND |
2014-01-08 | 1610-136-0913 | ND |
2014-01-13 | 1610-093-0850 | ND |
2014-02-04 | 1610-002-0820 | ND |
2014-02-04 | 1610-023-0915 | ND |
2014-02-10 | 1610-173-1355 | ND |
2014-03-04 | 1610-113-0925 | ND |
2014-03-06 | 1610-178-0845 | 0.110 ppm |
2014-03-07 | 1610-074-1020 | ND |
2014-03-17 | 1610-141-1031 | ND |
2014-04-03 | 1610-033-1050 | ND |
2014-04-08 | 1610-086-1055 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-05-23 | 1610-170-1030 | ND |
2014-05-23 | 1610-171-1010 | ND |
2014-06-03 | 1610-169-0815 | ND |
2014-06-10 | 1610-179-0915 | ND |
2014-06-11 | 1610-108-0950 | ND |
2014-07-08 | 1610-133-0912 | ND |
2014-07-10 | 1610-172-1000 | ND |
2014-08-06 | 1610-003-0820 | ND |
2014-08-14 | 1610-114-0845 | ND |
2014-08-18 | 1610-109-1005 | ND |
2014-09-23 | 1610-027-0845 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-11-03 | 1610-102-0859 | 0.160 ppm |
2014-11-05 | 1610-030-1230 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-11-05 | 1610-094-0940 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-11-12 | 1610-140-1100 | 0.110 ppm |
2014-12-02 | 1610-068-1020 | 0.130 ppm |
2014-12-03 | 1610-116-1250 | 0.130 ppm |
2014-12-03 | 1610-138-0950 | 0.150 ppm |
2015-01-07 | 1610-108-1140 | 0.170 ppm |
2015-01-07 | 1610-175-1140 | 0.170 ppm |
2015-01-13 | 1610-074-1108 | 0.110 ppm |
2015-01-13 | 1610-085-0905 | 0.170 ppm |
2015-03-03 | 1610-112-1105 | 0.120 ppm |
2015-03-04 | 1610-024-1120 | 0.150 ppm |
2015-03-05 | 1610-156-0922 | 0.140 ppm |
2015-03-11 | 1610-125-0925 | 0.160 ppm |
2015-03-12 | 1610-180-1006 | 0.160 ppm |
2015-03-12 | 1610-183-1215 | 0.170 ppm |
2015-04-08 | 1610-181-0915 | 0.140 ppm |
2015-04-13 | 1610-016-0930 | 0.150 ppm |
2015-05-14 | 1610-128-0846 | 0.140 ppm |
2015-05-14 | 1610-130-0918 | 0.150 ppm |
2015-06-03 | 1610-134-1022 | 0.140 ppm |
2015-07-16 | 1610-116-0900 | 0.110 ppm |
2015-08-05 | 1610-072-1100 | 0.160 ppm |
2015-08-13 | 1610-029-1020 | 0.130 ppm |
2015-08-26 | 1610-156-1120 | 0.1000 ppm |
2015-09-02 | 1610-111-0840 | 0.1000 ppm |
2015-09-24 | 1610-090-1145 | ND |
2015-10-20 | 1610-126-0840 | 0.120 ppm |
2016-01-07 | 1610-185-0955 | 0.130 ppm |
2016-01-07 | 1610-186-0933 | 0.120 ppm |
2016-01-12 | 1610-187-1410 | 0.150 ppm |
2016-02-04 | 1610-107-1024 | 0.150 ppm |
2016-02-04 | 1610-131-1130 | 0.140 ppm |
2016-02-08 | 1610-142-0926 | 0.1000 ppm |
2016-02-08 | 1610-143-0935 | 0.120 ppm |
2016-02-11 | 1610-004-0910 | 0.140 ppm |
2016-02-18 | 1610-117-1202 | 0.120 ppm |
2016-02-22 | 1610-031-0846 | 0.120 ppm |
2016-02-22 | 1610-034-0910 | 0.110 ppm |
2016-02-23 | 1610-025-0900 | 0.140 ppm |
2016-02-23 | 1610-085-1100 | 0.180 ppm |
2016-02-24 | 1610-135-1055 | 0.140 ppm |
2016-02-24 | 1610-137-1132 | 0.140 ppm |
2016-02-25 | 1610-005-1230 | 0.160 ppm |
2016-03-01 | 1610-070-1015 | 0.150 ppm |
2016-03-01 | 1610-101-0920 | 0.150 ppm |
2016-03-02 | 1610-093-0955 | 0.140 ppm |
2016-03-02 | 1610-118-1350 | 0.110 ppm |
2016-03-03 | 1610-088-0855 | 0.150 ppm |
2016-03-17 | 1610-168-0930 | 0.140 ppm |
2016-03-17 | 1610-176-1105 | 0.160 ppm |
2016-03-28 | 1610-022-1332 | 0.130 ppm |
2016-03-28 | 1610-129-1210 | 0.140 ppm |
2016-03-28 | 1610-177-0940 | 0.120 ppm |
2016-04-14 | 1610-184-0830 | 0.130 ppm |
2016-05-04 | 1233-198-1200 | ND |
2016-05-24 | 1610-075-1130 | 0.1000 ppm |
2016-06-14 | 1610-092-1015 | 0.110 ppm |
2016-06-15 | 1610-144-1030 | 0.1000 ppm |
2016-06-15 | 1233-199-1300 | 0.230 ppm |
2016-06-20 | 1610-093-1020 | 0.140 ppm |
2016-06-23 | 1610-067-1100 | ND |
2016-07-26 | 1233-198-1230 | 0.270 ppm |
2016-08-25 | 1233-194-1200 | 0.250 ppm |
2016-10-03 | 1233-196-1100 | 0.170 ppm |
2016-12-06 | 1610-907-1129 | 0.130 ppm |
2016-12-06 | 1610-913-1409 | 0.1000 ppm |
2016-12-12 | 1610-902-0921 | ND |
2016-12-12 | 1610-904-0910 | ND |
2016-12-12 | 1610-905-1300 | 0.130 ppm |
2016-12-13 | 1610-909-1130 | 0.140 ppm |
2016-12-13 | 1610-910-1252 | 0.0880 ppm |
2016-12-13 | 1610-915-0848 | 0.130 ppm |
2016-12-14 | 1610-906-0838 | 0.0910 ppm |
2016-12-14 | 1610-912-1353 | 0.550 ppm |
2016-12-15 | 1233-195-1200 | 0.180 ppm |
2016-12-16 | 1610-908-0846 | 0.120 ppm |
2016-12-19 | 1610-911-1108 | 0.430 ppm |
2017-01-03 | 1610-905-0857 | 0.150 ppm |
2017-01-03 | 1610-912-1257 | 0.710 ppm |
2017-01-03 | 1610-914-1347 | 0.680 ppm |
2017-01-03 | 1610-915-1107 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-01-04 | 1610-902-1006 | 0.120 ppm |
2017-01-04 | 1610-904-1026 | 0.120 ppm |
2017-01-04 | 1610-909-1017 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-01-06 | 1610-908-0954 | ND |
2017-01-06 | 1610-910-1148 | 0.790 ppm |
2017-01-11 | 1610-108-0947 | 0.160 ppm |
2017-01-11 | 1610-109-1010 | 0.160 ppm |
2017-01-12 | 1610-002-0830 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-01-17 | 1610-023-0920 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-01-17 | 1610-027-0950 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-01-17 | 1610-085-1150 | 0.160 ppm |
2017-01-18 | 1610-068-1055 | 0.130 ppm |
2017-01-18 | 1610-172-1335 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-01-26 | 1610-086-1415 | 0.160 ppm |
2017-01-26 | 1610-170-1115 | 0.160 ppm |
2017-01-31 | 1610-094-1215 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-01-31 | 1610-169-0805 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-01-31 | 1610-178-1250 | 0.160 ppm |
2017-01-31 | 1610-179-1520 | 0.160 ppm |
2017-02-01 | 1610-173-1355 | 0.150 ppm |
2017-02-02 | 1610-138-0900 | 0.150 ppm |
2017-02-06 | 1610-902-0908 | 0.0830 ppm |
2017-02-06 | 1610-904-0915 | 0.0860 ppm |
2017-02-06 | 1610-905-1130 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-02-06 | 1610-907-1145 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-02-08 | 1610-133-1150 | 0.150 ppm |
2017-02-16 | 1610-030-1130 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-02-27 | 1610-172-1335 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-03-06 | 1610-909-1108 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-03-06 | 1610-915-0908 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-03-07 | 1610-905-1018 | 0.120 ppm |
2017-03-07 | 1610-913-1417 | 0.700 ppm |
2017-03-08 | 1610-902-1208 | 0.0790 ppm |
2017-03-08 | 1610-904-1144 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-03-08 | 1610-906-0836 | 0.120 ppm |
2017-03-08 | 1610-912-1354 | 0.680 ppm |
2017-03-10 | 1610-908-0952 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-03-10 | 1610-910-1358 | 0.650 ppm |
2017-03-22 | 1610-102-0800 | 0.130 ppm |
2017-03-23 | 1610-171-0630 | 0.130 ppm |
2017-03-27 | 1610-911-1319 | 0.660 ppm |
2017-03-28 | 1610-110-1130 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-03-28 | 1610-141-0830 | ND |
2017-03-29 | 1610-033-0830 | ND |
2017-04-04 | 1610-902-1320 | 0.0790 ppm |
2017-04-04 | 1610-904-1339 | 0.0770 ppm |
2017-04-04 | 1610-915-1420 | 0.0950 ppm |
2017-04-17 | 1610-900-0941 | ND |
2017-05-01 | 1610-902-0935 | ND |
2017-05-01 | 1610-904-0947 | ND |
2017-05-01 | 1610-905-1410 | 0.1000 ppm |
2017-05-01 | 1610-909-1128 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-05-02 | 1610-915-1428 | 0.120 ppm |
2017-05-10 | 1610-003-0840 | ND |
2017-05-24 | 1610-140-1020 | ND |
2017-06-05 | 1610-905-0950 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-06-06 | 1610-906-1119 | ND |
2017-06-06 | 1610-909-1134 | 0.1000 ppm |
2017-06-07 | 1610-902-1305 | ND |
2017-06-07 | 1610-904-1329 | ND |
2017-06-08 | 1610-908-1159 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-06-08 | 1610-912-1407 | 0.570 ppm |
2017-06-08 | 1610-915-1320 | 0.200 ppm |
2017-06-09 | 1610-910-0929 | ND |
2017-06-12 | 1610-907-1036 | 0.1000 ppm |
2017-06-26 | 1610-911-1025 | 0.620 ppm |
2017-06-29 | 1610-136-1000 | ND |
2017-07-03 | 1610-909-1033 | 0.110 ppm |
2017-08-09 | 1610-906-0824 | ND |
2017-08-10 | 1610-903-0945 | ND |
2017-10-16 | 1610-900-1341 | 0.0750 ppm |
2017-12-04 | 1610-905-1124 | ND |
2017-12-04 | 1610-907-1145 | 0.1000 ppm |
2017-12-04 | 1610-909-1057 | ND |
2017-12-05 | 1610-913-1344 | 0.760 ppm |
2017-12-08 | 1610-908-0930 | 0.0780 ppm |
2017-12-08 | 1610-910-1145 | 0.140 ppm |
2017-12-14 | 1610-074-1350 | ND |
2017-12-18 | 1610-911-1426 | 0.190 ppm |
2018-01-09 | 1610-030-1110 | ND |
2018-01-10 | 1610-029-0905 | 0.1000 ppm |
2018-01-11 | 1610-156-0940 | ND |
2018-01-17 | 1610-074-1305 | 0.1000 ppm |
2018-01-18 | 1610-126-1249 | 0.1000 ppm |
2018-01-18 | 1610-134-1200 | 0.120 ppm |
2018-01-18 | 1610-137-1154 | 0.110 ppm |
2018-01-22 | 1610-085-1057 | 0.170 ppm |
2018-01-24 | 1610-101-1450 | 0.120 ppm |
2018-01-24 | 1610-180-1335 | 0.120 ppm |
2018-01-25 | 1610-125-1130 | 0.110 ppm |
2018-01-25 | 1610-128-1200 | 0.110 ppm |
2018-01-25 | 1610-130-1055 | 0.120 ppm |
2018-01-25 | 1610-175-1345 | 0.130 ppm |
2018-01-30 | 1610-142-0940 | ND |
2018-01-31 | 1610-090-1115 | ND |
2018-01-31 | 1610-181-1210 | 0.120 ppm |
2018-02-01 | 1610-111-1010 | ND |
2018-02-01 | 1610-183-1220 | 0.120 ppm |
2018-02-07 | 1610-112-0924 | ND |
2018-03-06 | 1610-024-1345 | ND |
2018-04-06 | 1610-908-0921 | 0.120 ppm |
2018-04-06 | 1610-910-1131 | ND |
2018-04-26 | 1610-113-1310 | ND |
2018-08-16 | 1610-114-1107 | ND |
2018-08-16 | 1610-116-0935 | ND |
2019-01-14 | 1610-074-1340 | ND |
2019-01-16 | 1610-199-0915 | 0.110 ppm |
2019-01-23 | 1610-022-0910 | 0.1000 ppm |
2019-01-24 | 1610-025-1200 | 0.110 ppm |
2019-01-24 | 1610-168-1325 | 0.110 ppm |
2019-01-30 | 1610-004-0900 | 0.110 ppm |
2019-01-30 | 1610-070-0950 | 0.120 ppm |
2019-01-30 | 1610-185-1152 | 0.120 ppm |
2019-01-31 | 1610-085-0846 | 0.140 ppm |
2019-02-05 | 1610-107-0905 | 0.170 ppm |
2019-02-05 | 1610-108-0923 | 0.140 ppm |
2019-02-05 | 1610-178-1200 | 0.130 ppm |
2019-02-07 | 1610-117-1040 | 0.1000 ppm |
2019-02-14 | 1610-186-0932 | 0.120 ppm |
2019-02-21 | 1610-088-0935 | 0.130 ppm |
2019-02-21 | 1610-131-1000 | 0.110 ppm |
2019-02-21 | 1610-176-1130 | 0.130 ppm |
2019-02-28 | 1610-129-0945 | 0.110 ppm |
2019-02-28 | 1610-143-0945 | ND |
2019-03-06 | 1610-135-1130 | 0.110 ppm |
2019-03-06 | 1610-144-1420 | ND |
2019-03-07 | 1610-173-1045 | ND |
2019-03-14 | 1610-177-1135 | ND |
2019-03-14 | 1610-187-1335 | 0.110 ppm |
2019-03-21 | 1610-031-1121 | ND |
2019-03-21 | 1610-067-1315 | ND |
2019-03-21 | 1610-184-1017 | ND |
2019-03-25 | 1610-034-1100 | ND |
2019-03-26 | 1610-136-1329 | ND |
2019-03-27 | 1610-093-1430 | 0.110 ppm |
2019-12-12 | 1610-141-0855 | 0.0900 ppm |
2019-12-12 | 1610-142-1000 | 0.0890 ppm |
2019-12-16 | 1610-144-0915 | 0.0870 ppm |