Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Laurel Pump District

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.

 

77

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND130ND
2019ND130ND
2020ND120ND
2021ND130ND
2022ND130ND
2023ND130ND

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
2018-01-24S757463ND
2018-02-14S757771ND
2018-03-13S757791ND
2018-04-05S759344ND
2018-04-06S770742ND
2018-05-24S759352ND
2018-06-05S759474ND
2018-07-12S757801ND
2018-08-30S759544ND
2018-09-19S759570ND
2018-10-16S759591ND
2018-11-14S757813ND
2018-12-13S759672ND
2019-01-10S759676ND
2019-02-21S759643ND
2019-03-12S759633ND
2019-03-22S817053ND
2019-04-02S759636ND
2019-05-23S759282ND
2019-06-20S759290ND
2019-07-24S759728ND
2019-08-21S759703ND
2019-09-03S759704ND
2019-10-18S895865ND
2019-11-12S759358ND
2019-12-09S919987ND
2020-01-09S759366ND
2020-02-12S922978ND
2020-03-13S922986ND
2020-03-25S901906ND
2020-05-20S923023ND
2020-06-23S923045ND
2020-07-14S923031ND
2020-08-13S923038ND
2020-09-23S992027ND
2020-10-08S992051ND
2020-11-18S1020766ND
2020-12-10S992059ND
2021-01-14S992067ND
2021-02-08S1035156ND
2021-02-12S1035165ND
2021-03-04S992075ND
2021-04-12S923105ND
2021-05-06S923076ND
2021-06-04S923085ND
2021-07-02S923155ND
2021-08-05S923122ND
2021-09-03S923180ND
2021-10-08S923203ND
2021-11-19S1073506ND
2021-12-03S1073512ND
2022-01-06S923191ND
2022-01-14S1136787ND
2022-02-16S1073792ND
2022-03-03S1073808ND
2022-04-14S1073519ND
2022-05-13S1073571ND
2022-06-03S1073572ND
2022-07-01S1073550ND
2022-08-22S923170ND
2022-09-12S1223017ND
2022-10-05S1223023ND
2022-11-07S1073542ND
2022-12-06S1073558ND
2023-01-05S1223044ND
2023-02-15S1223058ND
2023-02-24S1257106ND
2023-03-13S1223092ND
2023-04-10S1223062ND
2023-05-26S1223080ND
2023-06-15S1223087ND
2023-07-07S1223100ND
2023-08-04S1073891ND
2023-09-18S1223148ND
2023-10-23S1223152ND
2023-11-03S1073897ND
2023-12-08S1073854ND