Fluoride
Lewes Board Of Public Works
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0.835 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.725 ppm - 1.000 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.820 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.721 ppm - 0.915 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.790 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.401 ppm - 0.974 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.735 ppm | 11 | 11 | 0.637 ppm - 0.892 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.269 ppm | 13 | 6 | ND - 0.754 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.703 ppm | 17 | 17 | 0.486 ppm - 0.839 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-09 | S591242 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2018-02-13 | S535700 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2018-03-13 | S535704 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2018-04-10 | S535708 | 0.861 ppm |
| 2018-05-01 | S535673 | 0.746 ppm |
| 2018-06-05 | S535679 | 0.725 ppm |
| 2018-07-03 | S297135 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-08-07 | S535746 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2018-08-28 | S792554 | 0.754 ppm |
| 2018-09-04 | S535757 | 0.878 ppm |
| 2018-10-09 | S812997 | 0.855 ppm |
| 2018-11-07 | S813003 | 0.876 ppm |
| 2018-12-04 | S535758 | 0.795 ppm |
| 2019-01-08 | S535762 | 0.915 ppm |
| 2019-02-05 | S535766 | 0.819 ppm |
| 2019-03-05 | S535770 | 0.736 ppm |
| 2019-04-02 | S535729 | 0.784 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | S535733 | 0.748 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | S883447 | 0.721 ppm |
| 2019-06-04 | S535774 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2019-07-09 | S535785 | 0.782 ppm |
| 2019-08-06 | S535721 | 0.892 ppm |
| 2019-09-03 | S297147 | 0.885 ppm |
| 2019-10-15 | S388555 | 0.893 ppm |
| 2019-11-12 | S388559 | 0.882 ppm |
| 2019-12-13 | S388563 | 0.865 ppm |
| 2020-01-14 | S388567 | 0.835 ppm |
| 2020-02-11 | S297159 | 0.892 ppm |
| 2020-03-10 | S943540 | 0.902 ppm |
| 2020-03-10 | S297163 | 0.881 ppm |
| 2020-04-14 | S297168 | 0.401 ppm |
| 2020-05-05 | S297172 | 0.664 ppm |
| 2020-06-02 | S297183 | 0.764 ppm |
| 2020-07-07 | S297194 | 0.814 ppm |
| 2020-08-05 | S297206 | 0.631 ppm |
| 2020-09-01 | S297217 | 0.803 ppm |
| 2020-10-13 | S297225 | 0.874 ppm |
| 2020-11-10 | S297229 | 0.974 ppm |
| 2020-12-08 | S297233 | 0.831 ppm |
| 2021-01-12 | S297237 | 0.845 ppm |
| 2021-02-10 | S297241 | 0.814 ppm |
| 2021-03-09 | S297245 | 0.892 ppm |
| 2021-05-04 | S297253 | 0.768 ppm |
| 2021-06-01 | S297264 | 0.745 ppm |
| 2021-07-06 | S297275 | 0.693 ppm |
| 2021-08-03 | S297291 | 0.637 ppm |
| 2021-09-07 | S297313 | 0.724 ppm |
| 2021-10-26 | S1117786 | 0.657 ppm |
| 2021-11-09 | S297330 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2021-12-14 | S297336 | 0.647 ppm |
| 2022-01-11 | S297342 | 0.674 ppm |
| 2022-02-08 | S297348 | 0.435 ppm |
| 2022-03-08 | S297354 | 0.666 ppm |
| 2022-04-12 | S297360 | ND |
| 2022-05-03 | S297366 | ND |
| 2022-06-07 | S297302 | ND |
| 2022-07-05 | S388540 | ND |
| 2022-08-02 | S388551 | 0.745 ppm |
| 2022-08-29 | S1216799 | 0.754 ppm |
| 2022-09-07 | S388488 | ND |
| 2022-10-11 | S388499 | 0.226 ppm |
| 2022-11-16 | S388511 | ND |
| 2022-12-13 | S388512 | ND |
| 2023-01-10 | S388518 | 0.709 ppm |
| 2023-02-14 | S388524 | 0.634 ppm |
| 2023-03-14 | S388530 | 0.705 ppm |
| 2023-04-11 | S1282920 | 0.667 ppm |
| 2023-04-11 | S388536 | 0.548 ppm |
| 2023-05-02 | S388572 | 0.796 ppm |
| 2023-05-16 | S388578 | 0.786 ppm |
| 2023-06-20 | S388588 | 0.779 ppm |
| 2023-07-05 | S388594 | 0.708 ppm |
| 2023-07-18 | S1271827 | 0.689 ppm |
| 2023-08-01 | S1271833 | 0.486 ppm |
| 2023-08-15 | S1271839 | 0.839 ppm |
| 2023-09-05 | S1271845 | 0.748 ppm |
| 2023-09-19 | S1271851 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2023-10-10 | S1271857 | 0.646 ppm |
| 2023-11-14 | S1271863 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2023-12-12 | S1271869 | 0.779 ppm |