Fluoride
Conway County Regional Water District
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.592 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.360 ppm - 0.740 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.752 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.460 ppm - 0.960 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.832 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.610 ppm - 1.07 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.865 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.430 ppm - 1.04 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.821 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.620 ppm - 1.21 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.701 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.310 ppm - 0.920 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 | 140160007 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2014-01-28 | 140300034 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2014-02-04 | 140410035 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2014-03-03 | 140690015 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2014-04-02 | 141040023 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2014-05-06 | 141320029 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-06-03 | 141670004 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2014-07-09 | 142020022 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2014-08-01 | 142230029 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2014-09-02 | 142510031 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2014-10-08 | Y142860038 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2014-11-04 | Y143210013 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2014-12-02 | Y143490001 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2015-01-02 | Y150130028 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2015-01-20 | Y150220016 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2015-02-02 | Y150500031 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2015-03-03 | Y150750022 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2015-04-06 | Y151110002 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-05-04 | Y151340027 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2015-06-02 | Y151610015 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2015-07-01 | Y151890014 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2015-08-04 | Y152260056 | 0.960 ppm |
| 2015-09-02 | Y152580010 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2015-10-12 | Y152990010 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2015-11-02 | Y153130023 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2015-12-02 | Y153480003 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2016-01-05 | Y160120011 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2016-01-19 | Y160250016 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2016-02-01 | Y160400012 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2016-03-07 | Y160740039 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2016-04-12 | Y161160011 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2016-05-04 | Y161300011 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2016-07-05 | Y161930020 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2016-08-01 | Y162210028 | 0.980 ppm |
| 2016-09-06 | Y162560010 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2016-10-05 | Y162880095 | 1.07 ppm |
| 2016-11-07 | Y163210017 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2016-12-07 | Y163480013 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2017-01-03 | Y170100023 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2017-01-17 | Y170190005 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2017-02-01 | Y170400039 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2017-03-01 | Y170720021 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2017-04-03 | Y171000043 | 0.920 ppm |
| 2017-05-03 | Y171350025 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2017-06-05 | Y171630003 | 0.960 ppm |
| 2017-07-05 | Y171980010 | 0.920 ppm |
| 2017-08-02 | Y172260026 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2017-09-06 | Y172610002 | 0.980 ppm |
| 2017-10-02 | Y172820032 | 0.990 ppm |
| 2017-11-07 | Y173240033 | 1.04 ppm |
| 2017-12-04 | Y173450063 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2018-01-03 | Y180180016 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2018-01-29 | Y180320001 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2018-02-01 | Y180370005 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2018-03-08 | Y180720011 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | Y180990053 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2018-05-02 | Y181300040 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2018-06-04 | Y181620023 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2018-07-05 | Y181970002 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2018-08-01 | Y182190025 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2018-09-04 | Y182530045 | 1.21 ppm |
| 2018-10-02 | Y182810020 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2018-11-05 | Y183170039 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2018-12-03 | Y183440049 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2019-01-02 | Y190070011 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2019-02-05 | Y190380021 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2019-02-06 | Y190500039 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2019-03-04 | Y190700059 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2019-04-01 | Y190980046 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2019-06-03 | Y191610040 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2019-07-08 | Y191960028 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2019-08-07 | Y192320018 | 0.920 ppm |
| 2019-09-03 | Y192540021 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2019-10-03 | Y192880038 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2019-11-04 | Y193180016 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2019-12-02 | Y193470048 | 0.570 ppm |