Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Meriden Water Division

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.

 

75

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.249 ppm115ND - 0.810 ppm
20190.323 ppm148ND - 0.650 ppm
20200.215 ppm114ND - 0.660 ppm
20210.256 ppm114ND - 0.780 ppm
20220.224 ppm147ND - 0.530 ppm
20230.204 ppm147ND - 0.600 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
2018-07-19CA944110.470 ppm
2018-07-19CA944120.400 ppm
2018-07-19CA944100.510 ppm
2018-07-26CA987400.550 ppm
2018-07-26CA98735ND
2018-07-26CA98736ND
2018-07-26CA98737ND
2018-07-26CA98738ND
2018-07-26CA98739ND
2018-08-23CB174410.810 ppm
2018-08-23CB17437ND
2019-06-19CD380100.580 ppm
2019-06-19CD380110.480 ppm
2019-06-19CD380120.590 ppm
2019-06-19CD38013ND
2019-06-24CD408120.490 ppm
2019-06-26CD42473ND
2019-06-26CD42472ND
2019-06-26CD42471ND
2019-06-26CD424760.570 ppm
2019-06-26CD424750.610 ppm
2019-06-26CD424740.550 ppm
2019-07-03CD50737ND
2019-07-03CD50736ND
2019-07-31CD690990.650 ppm
2020-06-10CG104790.610 ppm
2020-06-10CG10478ND
2020-06-17CG160880.660 ppm
2020-06-17CG16091ND
2020-06-17CG16090ND
2020-06-17CG16089ND
2020-06-17CG160870.520 ppm
2020-06-17CG160860.570 ppm
2020-06-24CG20610ND
2020-06-24CG20609ND
2020-07-29CG43213ND
2021-06-07CI45714ND
2021-06-07CI45718ND
2021-06-07CI45717ND
2021-06-07CI45715ND
2021-06-07CI45713ND
2021-06-07CI45716ND
2021-06-09CI510910.780 ppm
2021-06-09CI510920.740 ppm
2021-06-09CI510930.630 ppm
2021-06-09CI510940.670 ppm
2021-08-25CJ13501ND
2022-05-25CL382090.370 ppm
2022-05-25CL38208ND
2022-06-01CL45778ND
2022-06-01CL45777ND
2022-06-01CL45776ND
2022-06-01CL45775ND
2022-06-01CL45779ND
2022-06-01CL457710.490 ppm
2022-06-01CL457700.530 ppm
2022-06-01CL457690.500 ppm
2022-06-01CL45774ND
2022-10-26CM708010.410 ppm
2022-10-26CM708020.410 ppm
2022-11-09CM805680.420 ppm
2023-01-30CN322190.600 ppm
2023-01-30CN32220ND
2023-03-08CN55433ND
2023-03-13CN587240.430 ppm
2023-03-13CN58725ND
2023-03-15CN602270.320 ppm
2023-03-15CN602280.400 ppm
2023-03-15CN60223ND
2023-03-15CN60221ND
2023-03-15CN60222ND
2023-03-22CN655820.500 ppm
2023-03-22CN65581ND
2023-07-17CO519140.310 ppm
2023-09-18CP021030.290 ppm