Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Torrington Water Company

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.

 

17

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.195 ppm31ND - 0.584 ppm
20190.203 ppm31ND - 0.610 ppm
20200.196 ppm31ND - 0.589 ppm
20210.195 ppm31ND - 0.586 ppm
20220.188 ppm31ND - 0.565 ppm
20230.300 ppm21ND - 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
2018-05-08D8E0876-02IOCRND
2018-05-08D8E0876-01IOCRND
2018-05-08D8E0850-02IOC0.584 ppm
2019-05-14D9E1446-02IOC0.610 ppm
2019-05-14D9E1476-02IOCRND
2019-05-14D9E1476-01IOCRND
2020-05-12D0E0828-03IOCND
2020-05-12D0E0828-04IOCND
2020-05-12D0E0838-R01IOC0.589 ppm
2021-05-11D1E1046-01IOC0.586 ppm
2021-05-18D1E1893-02IOCND
2021-05-18D1E1893-01IOCND
2022-05-09D2E0916-02IOCND
2022-05-09D2E0916-01IOCND
2022-05-10D2E0918-02IOC0.565 ppm
2023-04-04202305020-IOC10.600 ppm
2023-04-04202305019-IOCRND