Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Connecticut Water Company - Northern Reg-reservoir Heights

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.

 

71

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.651 ppm12120.530 ppm - 0.700 ppm
20190.701 ppm12120.640 ppm - 0.740 ppm
20200.694 ppm12120.620 ppm - 0.810 ppm
20210.703 ppm11110.610 ppm - 0.750 ppm
20220.458 ppm12120.270 ppm - 0.560 ppm
20230.492 ppm12120.390 ppm - 0.570 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
2018-01-10BZ71225IOC10.530 ppm
2018-02-08BZ86705IOC10.600 ppm
2018-03-20CA06187IOC10.700 ppm
2018-04-11CA18547IOC10.580 ppm
2018-05-02CA40226IOC10.690 ppm
2018-06-12CA69433IOC10.660 ppm
2018-07-16CA911690.680 ppm
2018-08-08CB077520.660 ppm
2018-09-25IOC 2005067390.680 ppm
2018-10-22IOC 2005099650.680 ppm
2018-11-12IOC 2005123890.690 ppm
2018-12-05IOC 2005150050.660 ppm
2019-01-23IOC 2005195110.640 ppm
2019-02-05IOC1 2005206030.680 ppm
2019-03-13IOC1 2005246610.730 ppm
2019-04-10IOC1 2005279500.680 ppm
2019-05-21IOC1 2005331240.740 ppm
2019-06-18IOC 2005369210.660 ppm
2019-07-17IOC1 2005409840.670 ppm
2019-08-14IOC1 2005449620.710 ppm
2019-09-24IOC1 2005502070.730 ppm
2019-10-14IOC1 2005526790.710 ppm
2019-11-19IOC1 2005572900.720 ppm
2019-12-05IOC1 2005591670.740 ppm
2020-01-14IOC1 2005629110.670 ppm
2020-02-19IOC1 2005667710.740 ppm
2020-03-23IOC1 2005702290.710 ppm
2020-04-15IOC1 2005725410.730 ppm
2020-05-12IOC1 2005754360.700 ppm
2020-06-09IOC1 2005785880.620 ppm
2020-07-14IOC 2005826950.680 ppm
2020-08-25IOC1 2005878820.810 ppm
2020-09-23IOC1 2005915140.680 ppm
2020-10-28IOCR 2005956490.700 ppm
2020-11-11IOC1 2005976990.630 ppm
2020-12-02IOC1 2006009700.660 ppm
2021-01-20IOC 2006045040.690 ppm
2021-02-09IOC1 2006060880.730 ppm
2021-03-10IOC 2006093780.610 ppm
2021-04-19IOC1 2006136680.730 ppm
2021-05-25IOC1 2006184900.740 ppm
2021-06-22IOC1 2006218760.710 ppm
2021-08-11IOC1 2006282450.750 ppm
2021-09-28F300069840 3000698420.680 ppm
2021-10-11F300078108 3000781090.690 ppm
2021-11-15F300102586 3001025880.730 ppm
2021-12-28F300125121 3001251230.670 ppm
2022-01-25CK231800.350 ppm
2022-02-07CK316300.370 ppm
2022-03-16CK885550.520 ppm
2022-04-12CL072770.560 ppm
2022-05-25CL380140.560 ppm
2022-06-13CL554710.380 ppm
2022-07-12CL760480.490 ppm
2022-08-24CM140350.480 ppm
2022-09-27CM424460.270 ppm
2022-10-11CM597290.470 ppm
2022-11-08CM802600.490 ppm
2022-12-14CN052200.550 ppm
2023-01-10CN208120.560 ppm
2023-02-07CN381560.480 ppm
2023-03-08CN560990.560 ppm
2023-04-04CN759030.450 ppm
2023-05-10CO034130.410 ppm
2023-06-12CO259050.500 ppm
2023-07-17CO524860.390 ppm
2023-08-01CO639670.490 ppm
2023-09-12CO949710.570 ppm
2023-10-02CP131970.570 ppm
2023-11-28CP542490.430 ppm
2023-12-20CP726040.490 ppm