Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

New Britain 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.

 

28

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.243 ppm660.0400 ppm - 0.620 ppm
20190.146 ppm550.0300 ppm - 0.600 ppm
20200.136 ppm51ND - 0.680 ppm
20210.126 ppm51ND - 0.630 ppm
20220.164 ppm51ND - 0.820 ppm
20230.367 ppm21ND - 0.733 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
2018-04-16IOCR 2004921500.0700 ppm
2018-04-16IOCR 2004921480.0500 ppm
2018-04-16IOCR 2004921490.0600 ppm
2018-04-16IOCR 2004921470.0400 ppm
2018-06-20IOC1 2004975340.620 ppm
2018-06-20IOCR 2004975340.620 ppm
2019-04-25IOCR 200529606B0.0400 ppm
2019-04-25IOCR 200529609E0.0300 ppm
2019-04-25IOCR 200529607C0.0300 ppm
2019-04-25IOCR 200529608D0.0300 ppm
2019-06-12IOC1 2005359950.600 ppm
2020-04-22IOCR 200573267ND
2020-04-22IOCR 200573266ND
2020-04-22IOCR 200573268ND
2020-04-22IOCR 200573265ND
2020-06-11IOC1 2005788920.680 ppm
2021-04-20IOCR 200613888ND
2021-04-20IOCR 200613891ND
2021-04-20IOCR 200613889ND
2021-04-20IOCR 200613890ND
2021-06-16IOC1 2006212050.630 ppm
2022-04-20I300172305 300172306ND
2022-04-20I300172334 300172335ND
2022-04-20I300172312 300172313ND
2022-04-20I300172319 300172325ND
2022-06-28E300204043 3002040450.820 ppm
2023-04-17E300334310 300334311ND
2023-06-13E300364610 3003646110.733 ppm