Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Middletown Water Department

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.

 

24

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.483 ppm440.0500 ppm - 0.640 ppm
20190.338 ppm440.0500 ppm - 0.630 ppm
20200.328 ppm42ND - 0.660 ppm
20210.453 ppm42ND - 0.950 ppm
20220.323 ppm42ND - 0.660 ppm
20230.324 ppm42ND - 0.674 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
2018-03-01IOCR 2004890020.0500 ppm
2018-03-01IOC1 2004890010.640 ppm
2018-04-16IOC1 2004921520.640 ppm
2018-04-16IOCR 2004921510.600 ppm
2019-05-13IOC1 2005318920.630 ppm
2019-05-13IOCR 2005318940.0700 ppm
2019-05-21IOC1 2005330820.600 ppm
2019-05-21IOCR 2005330840.0500 ppm
2020-05-06IOC1 2005747240.650 ppm
2020-05-06IOCR 200574725ND
2020-05-14IOC1 2005758340.660 ppm
2020-05-14IOCR 200575835ND
2021-03-30IOC1 2006113350.860 ppm
2021-03-30IOCR 200611337ND
2021-03-30IOC1 2006113360.950 ppm
2021-04-07IOCR 200612106ND
2022-05-11E300182524 3001825320.660 ppm
2022-05-11E300182526 3001825450.630 ppm
2022-05-11I300182528 300182729ND
2022-05-11I300182529 300182728ND
2023-06-23E300370712 3003707130.622 ppm
2023-06-23E300370718 3003707190.674 ppm
2023-06-23I300370724 300370725ND
2023-06-23I300370731 300370732ND