Fluoride
Epcor Water - Agua Fria
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 | 0.708 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.250 ppm - 1.99 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.321 ppm | 19 | 19 | 0.270 ppm - 0.550 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.301 ppm | 18 | 18 | 0.280 ppm - 0.340 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.484 ppm | 21 | 21 | 0.280 ppm - 1.76 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.470 ppm | 22 | 22 | 0.210 ppm - 1.35 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.284 ppm | 16 | 16 | 0.260 ppm - 0.300 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-20 | 4021662-01I | 0.920 ppm |
| 2014-02-20 | 4021662-02I | 1.34 ppm |
| 2014-02-21 | 4021720-01I | 1.02 ppm |
| 2014-02-21 | 4021720-02 | 1.02 ppm |
| 2014-03-17 | 4031321-01I | 1.57 ppm |
| 2014-03-18 | 4031423-01I | 0.690 ppm |
| 2014-03-18 | 4031423-02I | 1.99 ppm |
| 2014-03-18 | 4031423-03I | 0.830 ppm |
| 2014-03-19 | 4031531-01 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2014-05-07 | 4050637-01 | 1.57 ppm |
| 2014-05-07 | 4050637-02 | 1.39 ppm |
| 2014-05-07 | 4050637-03 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2014-05-07 | 4050637-04 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2014-05-08 | 4050765-01 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2014-05-08 | 4050765-02 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2014-05-08 | 4050765-03 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2014-06-24 | 4061967-01I | 0.320 ppm |
| 2014-08-01 | 4080053-01 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2014-08-05 | 4080428-04 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2014-08-06 | 4080551-01I | 0.260 ppm |
| 2014-08-06 | 4080551-02 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2014-11-17 | 4111350-04 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2014-11-17 | 4111350-05 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2014-11-18 | 4111490-02 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2015-02-26 | 5022333-03 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2015-02-26 | 5022333-04 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2015-02-26 | 5022333-05 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2015-03-05 | 5030509-02 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2015-05-12 | 5051006-02 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2015-05-12 | 5051006-03 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-05-12 | 5051006-04 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2015-05-12 | 5051006-05 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2015-05-12 | 5051006-06 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2015-05-12 | 5051006-07 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-08-03 | 5080125-02I | 0.280 ppm |
| 2015-08-03 | 5080125-03I | 0.280 ppm |
| 2015-08-03 | 5080125-04 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2015-08-04 | 5080273-03I | 0.270 ppm |
| 2015-11-30 | 5112306-04 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-11-30 | 5112306-05 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-12-03 | 5120407-01 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-12-03 | 5120407-02I | 0.300 ppm |
| 2015-12-03 | 5120407-03 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2016-03-22 | 6031906-01 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2016-03-23 | 6032047-02 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2016-03-23 | 6032047-03 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2016-03-23 | 6032047-04 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2016-06-01 | 6060112-04 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 6060444-01 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 6060444-02I | 0.290 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 6060444-03 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 6060444-04 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2016-06-06 | 6060444-05 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2016-09-16 | 6091438-01 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2016-09-16 | 6091438-02 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2016-09-16 | 6091438-03 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2016-09-16 | 6091438-04 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2016-12-01 | 6120081-01 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2016-12-01 | 6120081-02I | 0.300 ppm |
| 2016-12-02 | 6120164-04 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2016-12-02 | 6120164-05 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2017-03-13 | 7031038-01 | 1.47 ppm |
| 2017-03-13 | 7031038-02 | 1.76 ppm |
| 2017-03-16 | 7031480-01 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2017-03-16 | 7031480-02 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2017-03-20 | 7031693-01 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2017-03-20 | 7031693-02 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2017-03-21 | 7031806-01 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2017-03-21 | 7031806-02 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2017-03-22 | 7031982-01 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2017-05-18 | 7051941-02 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2017-05-30 | 7052780-01 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2017-05-31 | 7052920-02 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2017-06-06 | 7060554-03 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 7081006-01 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 7081006-02 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 7081006-03 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2017-08-10 | 7081172-01 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2017-12-05 | 7120469-01 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2017-12-05 | 7120469-02 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2017-12-05 | 7120469-03IOC | 0.310 ppm |
| 2017-12-13 | 7121345-04 | 1.03 ppm |
| 2018-03-05 | 18C0358-03 IOC | 0.270 ppm |
| 2018-03-06 | 18C0528-01 IOC | 0.270 ppm |
| 2018-03-06 | 18C0528-02 IOC | 0.310 ppm |
| 2018-03-20 | 18C1975-02 IOC | 0.310 ppm |
| 2018-05-30 | 18E2948-01 IOC | 0.270 ppm |
| 2018-05-30 | 18E2948-02 IOC | 0.260 ppm |
| 2018-05-30 | 18E2948-03 IOC | 0.260 ppm |
| 2018-06-07 | 18F0816-01 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2018-08-16 | 18H1816-04 IOC | 0.230 ppm |
| 2018-11-15 | 18K1636-03 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2018-11-26 | 18K2331-01 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2018-11-26 | 18K2331-02 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2018-11-26 | 18K2331-03 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2018-12-28 | 18L2592-01 | 1.35 ppm |
| 2018-12-28 | 18L2592-02 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2018-12-28 | 18L2592-03 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2018-12-28 | 18L2592-04 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2018-12-28 | 18L2592-05 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2018-12-28 | 18L2592-06 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2018-12-28 | 18L2592-07 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2018-12-28 | 18L2592-08 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2018-12-28 | 18L2592-09 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2019-03-14 | 19C1551-01 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2019-03-14 | 19C1551-02 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-03-14 | 19C1551-03 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2019-03-14 | 19C1551-04 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 19E2359-01 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 19E2359-02 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 19E2359-03 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 19E2454-01 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2019-08-28 | 19H3278-01 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-08-28 | 19H3278-02 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-08-29 | 19H3407-01 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-08-29 | 19H3407-02 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2019-10-09 | 19J1358-01 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2019-10-09 | 19J1358-02 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2019-10-10 | 19J1493-01 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2019-10-14 | 19J1715-01 | 0.280 ppm |