Fluoride
Grand Prairie Bayou 2 PWA
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 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
| 2015 | 0.476 ppm | 5 | 4 | ND - 0.710 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.600 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.210 ppm - 1.24 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.717 ppm | 25 | 25 | 0.250 ppm - 1.29 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.559 ppm | 25 | 22 | ND - 1.18 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.756 ppm | 21 | 21 | 0.340 ppm - 1.15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-06 | 140380002 | ND |
| 2015-05-06 | Y151270040 | ND |
| 2015-11-10 | Y153200033 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2015-11-10 | Y153200034 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2015-12-08 | Y153480034 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2015-12-08 | Y153480033 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2016-01-05 | Y160080015 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2016-01-05 | Y160080016 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2016-02-09 | Y160470003 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2016-02-09 | Y160470004 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2016-03-08 | Y160740001 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2016-03-08 | Y160740002 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2016-04-06 | Y161040020 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2016-04-06 | Y161040021 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2016-05-10 | Y161380017 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2016-05-10 | Y161380018 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | Y161650019 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | Y161650020 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2016-07-12 | Y162000029 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2016-07-12 | Y162000030 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2016-08-09 | Y162280007 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2016-08-09 | Y162280006 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2016-09-13 | Y162640049 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2016-09-13 | Y162640050 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2016-10-06 | Y162880053 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2016-10-06 | Y162880055 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2016-11-08 | Y163140020 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2016-11-08 | Y163140021 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2016-12-20 | Y163620001 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2016-12-20 | Y163620002 | 1.24 ppm |
| 2017-01-10 | Y170110012 | 1.29 ppm |
| 2017-01-10 | Y170110013 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2017-01-10 | Y170120023 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | Y170400063 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | Y170400064 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | Y170720032 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | Y170720033 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2017-04-04 | Y171000015 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2017-04-04 | Y171000016 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2017-05-09 | Y171350056 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2017-05-09 | Y171350046 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2017-06-20 | Y171770029 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2017-06-26 | Y171840082 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | Y171980048 | 1.08 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | Y171980049 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | Y172260061 | 0.960 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | Y172260062 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2017-09-13 | Y172610021 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2017-09-13 | Y172610022 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2017-10-26 | Y173030031 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2017-10-26 | Y173030033 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2017-11-07 | Y173170056 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2017-11-20 | Y173310007 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2017-12-12 | Y173540059 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2017-12-12 | Y173540068 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2018-01-23 | Y180240002 | ND |
| 2018-01-23 | Y180240003 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2018-02-20 | Y180530025 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2018-02-20 | Y180530024 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2018-03-20 | Y180850012 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2018-03-20 | Y180850011 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2018-04-03 | Y180990012 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2018-04-03 | Y180990013 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2018-04-17 | Y181090013 | ND |
| 2018-05-08 | Y181340024 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2018-05-08 | Y181340023 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2018-06-20 | Y181760066 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2018-06-20 | Y181760067 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2018-07-24 | Y182120013 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2018-07-24 | Y182120014 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2018-08-08 | Y182250037 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2018-08-08 | Y182250036 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2018-09-18 | Y182670009 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2018-09-18 | Y182670010 | ND |
| 2018-10-03 | Y182810021 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2018-10-16 | Y182950006 | 1.18 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | Y183170026 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | Y183170027 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2018-12-18 | Y183600009 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2018-12-18 | Y183600008 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2019-01-16 | Y190220017 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2019-01-16 | Y190220018 | 1.15 ppm |
| 2019-02-25 | Y190630006 | 0.960 ppm |
| 2019-02-25 | Y190630005 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | Y190700041 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2019-03-19 | Y190840009 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2019-04-09 | Y191050025 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2019-04-09 | Y191050024 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-05-08 | Y191330037 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2019-05-20 | Y191530018 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2019-06-24 | Y191820003 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2019-06-24 | Y191820004 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2019-07-11 | Y191960004 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2019-07-15 | Y192030004 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-08-20 | Y192380001 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-09-10 | Y192590007 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2019-10-08 | Y192880053 | 1.03 ppm |
| 2019-11-06 | Y193180036 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2019-11-25 | Y193370006 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2019-12-03 | Y193430002 | 0.960 ppm |
| 2019-12-03 | Y193430001 | 0.850 ppm |