Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

High Desert Detention Center

Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems to prevent cavities and support oral health in people.

In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services updated its recommendation of an optimal level of 0.7 parts per million, or ppm, added to drinking water based on the health benefits of tooth decay prevention. Studies have shown that fluoride added to community water systems at this level reduces dental cavities, especially in children.

And studies have conclusively shown that fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash can also provide these benefits. Read More.

Health Concerns

Although the HHS-recommended level of 0.7 ppm can help promote oral health in children and adults, this level is likely too high for bottle-fed babies. EWG recommends that caregivers mix baby formula with fluoride-free water.

And fluoride in water at higher levels can be detrimental for everyone, especially children.

Long-term ingestion of higher levels of fluoride in water increases dental fluorosis, which includes mottling, pitting and weakening of the teeth in children.

A 2024 authoritative assessment by the National Toxicology Program found that higher levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 ppm of fluoride, are associated with lower IQ in children. The conclusion was based on studies in human populations outside of the U.S.

Affecting systems with naturally occurring fluoride, 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 fracture. But these effects may occur at lower levels of exposure, raising concerns that the current limit may not adequately protect public health.

 

310

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.913 ppm6562ND - 4.00 ppm
20190.818 ppm50500.140 ppm - 3.20 ppm
20200.657 ppm29290.150 ppm - 3.10 ppm
20210.837 ppm60600.190 ppm - 3.60 ppm
20220.690 ppm62620.110 ppm - 4.00 ppm
20230.606 ppm44440.180 ppm - 3.00 ppm

ppm = parts per million

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 4 ppm

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-03CA3601182_001_001-2018010311003.40 ppm
2018-01-03CA3601182_004_004-2018010311450.790 ppm
2018-01-03CA3601182_003_003-2018010311150.260 ppm
2018-01-05CA3601182_001_001-2018010510154.00 ppm
2018-01-08CA3601182_004_004-2018010811150.720 ppm
2018-01-16CA3601182_004_004-2018011611150.760 ppm
2018-01-22CA3601182_004_004-2018012211450.720 ppm
2018-02-05CA3601182_003_003-2018020513150.210 ppm
2018-02-05CA3601182_004_004-2018020513300.710 ppm
2018-02-13CA3601182_004_004-2018021311150.730 ppm
2018-02-20CA3601182_004_004-2018022012150.730 ppm
2018-02-27CA3601182_004_004-2018022711150.780 ppm
2018-03-05CA3601182_003_003-2018030511150.300 ppm
2018-03-05CA3601182_004_004-2018030511300.790 ppm
2018-03-13CA3601182_004_004-2018031311150.780 ppm
2018-03-19CA3601182_004_004-2018031911150.760 ppm
2018-03-27CA3601182_004_004-2018032710450.760 ppm
2018-04-03CA3601182_004_004-2018040312000.750 ppm
2018-04-03CA3601182_001_001-2018040311303.20 ppm
2018-04-03CA3601182_003_003-2018040311450.270 ppm
2018-04-10CA3601182_004_004-2018041011150.770 ppm
2018-04-16CA3601182_004_004-2018041610450.790 ppm
2018-04-23CA3601182_004_004-2018042311150.750 ppm
2018-04-24CA3601182_001_001-2018042411003.30 ppm
2018-05-03CA3601182_004_004-2018050311300.760 ppm
2018-05-03CA3601182_003_003-2018050311150.300 ppm
2018-05-07CA3601182_004_004-2018050711150.780 ppm
2018-05-14CA3601182_004_004-2018051411450.810 ppm
2018-05-24CA3601182_004_004-2018052411150.860 ppm
2018-06-02CA3601182_004_004-2018060208300.880 ppm
2018-06-06CA3601182_003_003-2018060610450.420 ppm
2018-06-11CA3601182_004_004-2018061111150.910 ppm
2018-06-20CA3601182_004_004-2018062014150.850 ppm
2018-06-25CA3601182_004_004-2018062511150.850 ppm
2018-07-02CA3601182_003_003-2018070211150.430 ppm
2018-07-02CA3601182_004_004-2018070211300.930 ppm
2018-07-02CA3601182_001_001-2018070211003.30 ppm
2018-07-09CA3601182_001_001-2018070911003.30 ppm
2018-07-17CA3601182_004_004-2018071710450.950 ppm
2018-07-24CA3601182_004_004-2018072414150.580 ppm
2018-07-24CA3601182_003_003-201807241400ND
2018-08-06CA3601182_003_003-201808061115ND
2018-08-06CA3601182_004_004-2018080611300.600 ppm
2018-08-15CA3601182_004_004-2018081514450.630 ppm
2018-08-20CA3601182_004_004-2018082011150.630 ppm
2018-08-27CA3601182_004_004-2018082711450.620 ppm
2018-09-11CA3601182_004_004-2018091110450.630 ppm
2018-09-17CA3601182_004_004-2018091711450.630 ppm
2018-09-24CA3601182_004_004-2018092412450.630 ppm
2018-10-01CA3601182_003_003-201810011100ND
2018-10-01CA3601182_001_001-2018100110453.20 ppm
2018-10-01CA3601182_004_004-2018100111150.570 ppm
2018-10-09CA3601182_004_004-2018100911150.580 ppm
2018-10-16CA3601182_004_004-2018101611150.610 ppm
2018-10-22CA3601182_004_004-2018102212150.620 ppm
2018-11-06CA3601182_003_003-2018110610000.110 ppm
2018-11-06CA3601182_004_004-2018110609150.630 ppm
2018-11-14CA3601182_004_004-2018111411450.650 ppm
2018-11-19CA3601182_004_004-2018111910450.660 ppm
2018-11-26CA3601182_004_004-2018112612000.620 ppm
2018-12-03CA3601182_004_004-2018120311100.670 ppm
2018-12-03CA3601182_003_003-2018120312000.150 ppm
2018-12-10CA3601182_004_004-2018121011000.660 ppm
2018-12-18CA3601182_004_004-2018121812100.640 ppm
2018-12-26CA3601182_004_004-2018122611450.640 ppm
2019-01-02CA3601182_001_001-2019010212003.10 ppm
2019-01-02CA3601182_003_003-2019010212150.140 ppm
2019-01-02CA3601182_004_004-2019010212300.650 ppm
2019-01-08CA3601182_004_004-2019010811450.550 ppm
2019-01-14CA3601182_004_004-2019011410050.590 ppm
2019-01-30CA3601182_004_004-2019013011000.590 ppm
2019-02-06CA3601182_003_003-2019020612150.140 ppm
2019-02-06CA3601182_004_004-2019020612100.590 ppm
2019-02-11CA3601182_004_004-2019021111450.630 ppm
2019-02-20CA3601182_004_004-2019022011450.610 ppm
2019-02-25CA3601182_004_004-2019022511150.610 ppm
2019-03-05CA3601182_003_003-2019030512170.150 ppm
2019-03-05CA3601182_004_004-2019030510500.580 ppm
2019-03-12CA3601182_004_004-2019031211120.610 ppm
2019-03-19CA3601182_004_004-2019031913080.620 ppm
2019-03-26CA3601182_004_004-2019032611360.630 ppm
2019-04-02CA3601182_003_003-2019040212090.160 ppm
2019-04-02CA3601182_004_004-2019040211580.650 ppm
2019-04-02CA3601182_001_001-2019040211353.20 ppm
2019-04-08CA3601182_004_004-2019040811030.660 ppm
2019-04-16CA3601182_004_004-2019041611500.700 ppm
2019-04-22CA3601182_004_004-2019042211350.660 ppm
2019-04-26CA3601182_004_004-2019042615100.590 ppm
2019-04-29CA3601182_004_004-2019042913170.690 ppm
2019-05-13CA3601182_004_004-2019051312260.820 ppm
2019-05-13CA3601182_003_003-2019051312360.390 ppm
2019-05-21CA3601182_004_004-2019052112250.720 ppm
2019-05-29CA3601182_004_004-2019052911050.680 ppm
2019-06-10CA3601182_004_004-2019061012160.990 ppm
2019-06-17CA3601182_004_004-2019061712290.790 ppm
2019-06-24CA3601182_004_004-2019062411360.800 ppm
2019-07-01CA3601182_001_001-2019070111303.10 ppm
2019-07-01CA3601182_003_003-2019070112080.410 ppm
2019-07-01CA3601182_004_004-2019070111550.830 ppm
2019-07-08CA3601182_004_004-2019070812150.730 ppm
2019-07-15CA3601182_004_004-2019071511270.790 ppm
2019-07-30CA3601182_004_004-2019073011140.660 ppm
2019-08-06CA3601182_003_003-2019080611500.210 ppm
2019-08-06CA3601182_004_004-2019080612200.610 ppm
2019-08-12CA3601182_004_004-2019081211300.670 ppm
2019-08-20CA3601182_004_004-2019082011420.840 ppm
2019-08-27CA3601182_004_004-2019082709080.850 ppm
2019-09-05CA3601182_003_003-2019090510050.510 ppm
2019-09-05CA3601182_004_004-2019090510100.950 ppm
2019-09-17CA3601182_004_004-2019091711380.750 ppm
2019-09-24CA3601182_004_004-2019092411350.760 ppm
2019-10-01CA3601182_001_001-2019100110303.00 ppm
2019-10-01CA3601182_003_003-2019100110500.330 ppm
2019-10-01CA3601182_004_004-2019100110400.750 ppm
2019-10-08CA3601182_004_004-2019100811260.840 ppm
2020-02-10CA3601182_004_004-2020021010220.910 ppm
2020-02-18CA3601182_004_004-2020021813000.490 ppm
2020-02-24CA3601182_004_004-2020022411170.610 ppm
2020-03-09CA3601182_004_004-2020030910580.630 ppm
2020-03-16CA3601182_004_004-2020031612550.650 ppm
2020-04-01CA3601182_003_003-2020040110070.150 ppm
2020-04-01CA3601182_004_004-2020040109590.640 ppm
2020-04-06CA3601182_004_004-2020040609200.600 ppm
2020-04-13CA3601182_004_004-2020041310440.260 ppm
2020-04-20CA3601182_004_004-2020042011010.200 ppm
2020-04-29CA3601182_004_004-2020042909430.170 ppm
2020-05-04CA3601182_003_003-2020050411170.160 ppm
2020-05-04CA3601182_004_004-2020050411180.170 ppm
2020-05-11CA3601182_004_004-2020051112000.240 ppm
2020-07-27CA3601182_004_004-2020072715180.660 ppm
2020-08-03CA3601182_004_004-2020080311350.640 ppm
2020-08-10CA3601182_004_004-2020081009300.710 ppm
2020-09-21CA3601182_004_004-2020092114250.700 ppm
2020-10-05CA3601182_004_004-2020100514450.860 ppm
2020-10-13CA3601182_004_004-2020101313100.680 ppm
2020-10-20CA3601182_004_004-2020102011110.680 ppm
2020-10-26CA3601182_004_004-2020102614430.700 ppm
2020-11-02CA3601182_004_004-2020110214520.690 ppm
2020-11-09CA3601182_004_004-2020110914590.710 ppm
2020-11-17CA3601182_001_001-2020111711433.10 ppm
2020-11-17CA3601182_004_004-2020111712080.720 ppm
2020-11-23CA3601182_004_004-2020112312200.700 ppm
2020-12-01CA3601182_004_004-2020120112590.740 ppm
2020-12-08CA3601182_004_004-2020120811350.890 ppm
2021-01-04CA3601182_004_004-2021010414450.650 ppm
2021-01-04CA3601182_004_004-2021010414500.200 ppm
2021-01-28CA3601182_001_001-2021012812163.00 ppm
2021-02-02CA3601182_004_004-2021020212330.680 ppm
2021-02-02CA3601182_004_004-2021020212410.290 ppm
2021-02-16CA3601182_004_004-2021021612200.720 ppm
2021-02-16CA3601182_001_001-2021021612113.10 ppm
2021-02-23CA3601182_004_004-2021022311190.680 ppm
2021-03-02CA3601182_004_004-2021030214170.760 ppm
2021-03-02CA3601182_004_004-2021030214220.330 ppm
2021-03-09CA3601182_004_004-2021030911560.730 ppm
2021-03-16CA3601182_004_004-2021031612500.660 ppm
2021-03-23CA3601182_004_004-2021032309500.660 ppm
2021-04-06CA3601182_003_003-2021040612210.280 ppm
2021-04-06CA3601182_004_004-2021040612210.280 ppm
2021-04-13CA3601182_004_004-2021041311520.660 ppm
2021-04-20CA3601182_004_004-2021042011330.640 ppm
2021-04-27CA3601182_004_004-2021042712010.640 ppm
2021-05-04CA3601182_003_003-2021050412090.270 ppm
2021-05-04CA3601182_004_004-2021050412040.620 ppm
2021-05-11CA3601182_004_004-2021051111000.640 ppm
2021-05-18CA3601182_004_004-2021051811560.620 ppm
2021-05-25CA3601182_004_004-2021052512220.600 ppm
2021-06-01CA3601182_003_003-2021060112150.240 ppm
2021-06-01CA3601182_004_004-2021060110450.540 ppm
2021-06-08CA3601182_004_004-2021060812290.710 ppm
2021-06-08CA3601182_DST_800-2021060812153.60 ppm
2021-06-15CA3601182_004_004-2021061511580.680 ppm
2021-06-22CA3601182_004_004-2021062212000.580 ppm
2021-06-29CA3601182_004_004-2021062910340.560 ppm
2021-07-06CA3601182_003_003-2021070612070.230 ppm
2021-07-06CA3601182_004_004-2021070611570.560 ppm
2021-07-13CA3601182_001_001-2021071312053.00 ppm
2021-07-13CA3601182_004_004-2021071312240.540 ppm
2021-07-20CA3601182_004_004-2021072012450.510 ppm
2021-07-27CA3601182_004_004-2021072711000.530 ppm
2021-08-10CA3601182_004_004-2021081011350.520 ppm
2021-08-17CA3601182_004_004-2021081712080.530 ppm
2021-08-25CA3601182_004_004-2021082513310.580 ppm
2021-09-14CA3601182_004_004-2021091413070.520 ppm
2021-09-21CA3601182_001_001-2021092111323.10 ppm
2021-09-21CA3601182_004_004-2021092111440.530 ppm
2021-09-28CA3601182_004_004-2021092814260.550 ppm
2021-10-05CA3601182_004_004-2021100511250.600 ppm
2021-10-05CA3601182_003_003-2021100511290.300 ppm
2021-10-12CA3601182_001_001-2021101211273.20 ppm
2021-10-12CA3601182_004_004-2021101211310.620 ppm
2021-10-19CA3601182_004_004-2021101910130.610 ppm
2021-10-26CA3601182_004_004-2021102613200.570 ppm
2021-11-02CA3601182_004_004-2021110212300.540 ppm
2021-11-02CA3601182_003_003-2021110212380.240 ppm
2021-11-09CA3601182_002_002-2021110911410.560 ppm
2021-11-16CA3601182_002_002-2021111612280.510 ppm
2021-11-22CA3601182_002_002-2021112211500.520 ppm
2021-12-08CA3601182_003_003-2021120810460.190 ppm
2021-12-08CA3601182_004_004-2021120810420.510 ppm
2021-12-15CA3601182_001_001-2021121511423.30 ppm
2021-12-15CA3601182_002_002-2021121511590.560 ppm
2021-12-21CA3601182_002_002-2021122111300.550 ppm
2021-12-28CA3601182_002_002-2021122812350.510 ppm
2022-01-04CA3601182_003_003-2022010411180.200 ppm
2022-01-04CA3601182_004_004-2022010411100.540 ppm
2022-01-11CA3601182_002_002-2022011112390.570 ppm
2022-01-11CA3601182_001_001-2022011112293.20 ppm
2022-01-19CA3601182_002_002-2022011915040.560 ppm
2022-01-25CA3601182_002_002-2022012513070.560 ppm
2022-02-02CA3601182_003_003-2022020211430.220 ppm
2022-02-02CA3601182_004_004-2022020211380.620 ppm
2022-02-09CA3601182_002_002-2022020911290.570 ppm
2022-02-15CA3601182_002_002-2022021512380.520 ppm
2022-02-15CA3601182_003_003-2022021512450.220 ppm
2022-02-23CA3601182_002_002-2022022311090.500 ppm
2022-03-15CA3601182_002_002-2022031512210.570 ppm
2022-03-15CA3601182_001_001-2022031512073.10 ppm
2022-03-22CA3601182_002_002-2022032212050.640 ppm
2022-03-29CA3601182_002_002-2022032911590.550 ppm
2022-04-05CA3601182_003_003-2022040513270.240 ppm
2022-04-05CA3601182_001_001-2022040513083.00 ppm
2022-04-05CA3601182_004_004-2022040513230.530 ppm
2022-04-12CA3601182_004_004-2022041210450.490 ppm
2022-04-19CA3601182_002_002-2022041912450.480 ppm
2022-04-26CA3601182_002_002-2022042612170.490 ppm
2022-05-03CA3601182_003_003-2022050311510.150 ppm
2022-05-03CA3601182_004_004-2022050311470.520 ppm
2022-05-10CA3601182_003_003-2022051011520.220 ppm
2022-05-17CA3601182_003_003-2022051712010.240 ppm
2022-05-25CA3601182_001_001-2022052510084.00 ppm
2022-06-14CA3601182_003_003-2022061411470.190 ppm
2022-06-21CA3601182_002_002-2022062111150.440 ppm
2022-06-30CA3601182_002_002-2022063012150.480 ppm
2022-07-05CA3601182_004_004-2022070511100.410 ppm
2022-07-05CA3601182_003_003-2022070511200.120 ppm
2022-07-12CA3601182_002_002-2022071212200.450 ppm
2022-07-19CA3601182_001_001-2022071912333.00 ppm
2022-07-19CA3601182_002_002-2022071912550.440 ppm
2022-07-26CA3601182_002_002-2022072611210.440 ppm
2022-08-02CA3601182_003_003-2022080211100.120 ppm
2022-08-02CA3601182_004_004-2022080211070.450 ppm
2022-08-09CA3601182_003_003-2022080911550.120 ppm
2022-08-09CA3601182_004_004-2022080911450.440 ppm
2022-08-16CA3601182_002_002-2022081611360.460 ppm
2022-08-23CA3601182_002_002-2022082309540.450 ppm
2022-09-13CA3601182_003_003-2022091311140.160 ppm
2022-09-13CA3601182_004_004-2022091311100.390 ppm
2022-09-20CA3601182_002_002-2022092012130.300 ppm
2022-10-04CA3601182_003_003-2022100411510.130 ppm
2022-10-04CA3601182_004_004-2022100411470.300 ppm
2022-10-11CA3601182_001_001-2022101111293.10 ppm
2022-10-11CA3601182_002_002-2022101111390.310 ppm
2022-10-18CA3601182_002_002-2022101811130.310 ppm
2022-10-25CA3601182_002_002-2022102511260.370 ppm
2022-11-01CA3601182_003_003-2022110112070.110 ppm
2022-11-01CA3601182_004_004-2022110112030.370 ppm
2022-11-09CA3601182_002_002-2022110911170.130 ppm
2022-11-15CA3601182_004_004-2022111511300.120 ppm
2022-11-21CA3601182_004_004-2022112111490.130 ppm
2022-11-30CA3601182_003_003-2022113011210.200 ppm
2022-11-30CA3601182_004_004-2022113011330.450 ppm
2022-12-06CA3601182_002_002-2022120612210.510 ppm
2022-12-14CA3601182_003_003-2022121411320.250 ppm
2022-12-14CA3601182_004_004-2022121411260.530 ppm
2022-12-14CA3601182_001_001-2022121411133.10 ppm
2023-01-06CA3601182_003_003-2023010611110.200 ppm
2023-01-11CA3601182_001_001-2023011111023.00 ppm
2023-01-24CA3601182_002_002-2023012411310.410 ppm
2023-02-01CA3601182_004_004-2023020112060.420 ppm
2023-02-01CA3601182_003_003-2023020112100.240 ppm
2023-02-07CA3601182_002_002-2023020712180.430 ppm
2023-02-14CA3601182_002_002-2023021412240.400 ppm
2023-04-04CA3601182_004_004-2023040412190.350 ppm
2023-04-04CA3601182_003_003-2023040411160.180 ppm
2023-04-04CA3601182_001_001-2023040411152.80 ppm
2023-04-11CA3601182_002_002-2023041112360.420 ppm
2023-04-11CA3601182_002_002-2023041112430.520 ppm
2023-04-27CA3601182_002_002-2023042712040.420 ppm
2023-05-03CA3601182_003_003-2023050311550.290 ppm
2023-05-03CA3601182_004_004-2023050311400.530 ppm
2023-05-09CA3601182_002_002-2023050909480.480 ppm
2023-05-16CA3601182_002_002-2023051611220.580 ppm
2023-05-16CA3601182_002_002-2023051611150.510 ppm
2023-05-23CA3601182_002_002-2023052310020.570 ppm
2023-06-01CA3601182_004_004-2023060111550.540 ppm
2023-06-01CA3601182_003_003-2023060112020.240 ppm
2023-06-06CA3601182_002_002-2023060611580.530 ppm
2023-06-20CA3601182_002_002-2023062011110.560 ppm
2023-06-27CA3601182_002_002-2023062711570.530 ppm
2023-07-05CA3601182_003_003-2023070511050.530 ppm
2023-07-05CA3601182_004_004-2023070511040.230 ppm
2023-07-11CA3601182_002_002-2023071113520.610 ppm
2023-07-18CA3601182_002_002-2023071812180.580 ppm
2023-07-25CA3601182_002_002-2023072514400.560 ppm
2023-09-26CA3601182_004_004-2023092610300.570 ppm
2023-09-26CA3601182_003_003-2023092610202.30 ppm
2023-10-11CA3601182_002_002-2023101113200.560 ppm
2023-10-24CA3601182_002_002-2023102412060.540 ppm
2023-10-31CA3601182_002_002-2023103111500.530 ppm
2023-11-07CA3601182_002_002-2023110712000.550 ppm
2023-11-14CA3601182_003_003-2023111413050.230 ppm
2023-11-14CA3601182_004_004-2023111412550.570 ppm
2023-11-21CA3601182_002_002-2023112112350.490 ppm
2023-11-29CA3601182_002_002-2023112910150.470 ppm
2023-12-05CA3601182_002_002-2023120510100.530 ppm
2023-12-12CA3601182_002_002-2023121212150.520 ppm
2023-12-19CA3601182_004_004-2023121914500.520 ppm
2023-12-19CA3601182_003_003-2023121915000.180 ppm
2023-12-26CA3601182_002_002-2023122610150.460 ppm