Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Georgetown 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.

 

155

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.659 ppm3028ND - 1.10 ppm
20190.893 ppm25250.426 ppm - 1.25 ppm
20200.783 ppm22220.0699 ppm - 0.938 ppm
20210.760 ppm2524ND - 1.81 ppm
20220.809 ppm2726ND - 1.02 ppm
20230.645 ppm26260.387 ppm - 1.31 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
2018-01-17S4470090.800 ppm
2018-01-17S4470120.770 ppm
2018-02-05S4470080.760 ppm
2018-02-05S4470190.760 ppm
2018-03-14S7839850.700 ppm
2018-03-26S4470341.10 ppm
2018-03-26S4470351.000 ppm
2018-04-16S6144090.819 ppm
2018-04-16S6144120.815 ppm
2018-05-15S6144020.441 ppm
2018-05-15S6144130.436 ppm
2018-06-18S783935ND
2018-06-18S7839360.404 ppm
2018-06-18S8137450.394 ppm
2018-06-20S4469780.299 ppm
2018-06-20S4469860.353 ppm
2018-06-20S4469890.299 ppm
2018-07-18S6143850.770 ppm
2018-07-18S6143880.756 ppm
2018-08-08S6143860.723 ppm
2018-08-08S6143890.765 ppm
2018-09-17S6145290.696 ppm
2018-09-17S6145320.729 ppm
2018-10-08S6145280.978 ppm
2018-10-08S6145310.968 ppm
2018-11-13S6080880.772 ppm
2018-11-13S6080910.770 ppm
2018-12-12S6080390.873 ppm
2018-12-12S6080420.833 ppm
2018-12-189448087-SCHEND
2019-01-09S6080410.930 ppm
2019-01-09S6080520.914 ppm
2019-02-21S6143740.892 ppm
2019-02-21S6143770.426 ppm
2019-03-21S6143780.955 ppm
2019-03-21S6143810.896 ppm
2019-04-10S6143590.948 ppm
2019-04-10S6143620.960 ppm
2019-05-02S6143660.981 ppm
2019-06-19S6143420.895 ppm
2019-06-19S6143530.893 ppm
2019-07-01S6080540.969 ppm
2019-07-01S6143540.969 ppm
2019-08-07S6080640.777 ppm
2019-08-07S6080670.886 ppm
2019-09-16S6080730.757 ppm
2019-09-16S6080760.827 ppm
2019-10-15S6142800.838 ppm
2019-10-15S6142830.848 ppm
2019-11-13S6142880.897 ppm
2019-11-13S6142911.06 ppm
2019-11-15S9253841.25 ppm
2019-11-15S9253870.710 ppm
2019-12-10S6142960.930 ppm
2019-12-10S6143040.922 ppm
2020-01-02S6143130.794 ppm
2020-02-17S6143120.720 ppm
2020-02-17S6143150.785 ppm
2020-03-02S6143250.901 ppm
2020-03-02S6143280.894 ppm
2020-04-14S8709900.910 ppm
2020-05-18S8709940.759 ppm
2020-05-18S8709970.754 ppm
2020-06-15S8710050.731 ppm
2020-06-15S8710080.736 ppm
2020-07-14S8710040.802 ppm
2020-07-14S8710070.824 ppm
2020-08-18S8710210.814 ppm
2020-08-18S8710240.834 ppm
2020-09-22S8710290.887 ppm
2020-09-22S8710420.885 ppm
2020-10-05S9697870.0699 ppm
2020-10-05S9776240.599 ppm
2020-11-18S8710750.938 ppm
2020-11-18S8710860.921 ppm
2020-12-15S8710850.844 ppm
2020-12-15S8710880.824 ppm
2021-01-19S8710610.682 ppm
2021-01-19S8710640.715 ppm
2021-02-17S8710470.717 ppm
2021-02-17S8710500.747 ppm
2021-03-17S10484190.806 ppm
2021-03-17S10484221.81 ppm
2021-03-17S8710460.864 ppm
2021-03-17S8710490.818 ppm
2021-04-19S9081080.640 ppm
2021-04-19S9081190.606 ppm
2021-05-17S9079930.755 ppm
2021-05-17S9081200.713 ppm
2021-07-07S9081150.552 ppm
2021-07-07S9081180.557 ppm
2021-08-23S9080040.637 ppm
2021-08-23S9080070.635 ppm
2021-09-22S9080930.604 ppm
2021-09-22S9080960.551 ppm
2021-10-18S9080170.773 ppm
2021-10-18S9081060.781 ppm
2021-11-08S9080271.10 ppm
2021-11-08S9080301.10 ppm
2021-12-07S9080380.909 ppm
2021-12-07S9080410.908 ppm
2021-12-08S1146559ND
2022-01-13S9080370.694 ppm
2022-01-13S9080400.426 ppm
2022-02-22S9080480.961 ppm
2022-02-22S9080510.996 ppm
2022-03-23S9080630.826 ppm
2022-03-23S9080740.827 ppm
2022-04-18S9080640.830 ppm
2022-04-18S9080670.815 ppm
2022-05-02S9080770.937 ppm
2022-05-02S9080800.937 ppm
2022-06-22S9080880.892 ppm
2022-06-22S9080910.894 ppm
2022-07-13S10781690.968 ppm
2022-07-13S10781720.955 ppm
2022-08-09S10781890.933 ppm
2022-09-21S10781850.969 ppm
2022-09-21S10781880.995 ppm
2022-10-17S10781540.961 ppm
2022-10-17S10781571.02 ppm
2022-11-28S10781350.934 ppm
2022-11-28S10781380.955 ppm
2022-12-15S10781370.670 ppm
2022-12-15S10781480.669 ppm
2022-12-16S1257321ND
2022-12-16S12573220.472 ppm
2022-12-21S10781490.819 ppm
2022-12-21S12585990.484 ppm
2023-01-24S12586060.696 ppm
2023-01-24S12586090.717 ppm
2023-02-21S10780160.421 ppm
2023-02-21S10780240.437 ppm
2023-03-27S10780260.801 ppm
2023-03-27S10780290.442 ppm
2023-04-17S10780370.645 ppm
2023-04-17S10780400.647 ppm
2023-05-22S10780510.623 ppm
2023-05-22S10780540.611 ppm
2023-06-21S10780590.514 ppm
2023-06-21S12586140.526 ppm
2023-07-17S12586160.410 ppm
2023-07-17S12586270.429 ppm
2023-08-16S12586430.635 ppm
2023-08-16S12586440.640 ppm
2023-09-20S12586460.387 ppm
2023-09-20S12586570.415 ppm
2023-10-18S12586600.807 ppm
2023-10-18S12586710.691 ppm
2023-11-03S13132740.752 ppm
2023-11-03S13132771.31 ppm
2023-11-13S12586730.729 ppm
2023-11-13S12586740.732 ppm
2023-12-19S12586760.750 ppm
2023-12-19S12586871.01 ppm