Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Gander Woods 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.

 

78

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND140ND
2019ND130ND
2020ND130ND
2021ND120ND
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
2018-01-29S757464ND
2018-02-12S757769ND
2018-03-12S757789ND
2018-04-17S759335ND
2018-05-24S757794ND
2018-06-01S811935ND
2018-06-07S759480ND
2018-07-19S757802ND
2018-08-22S759542ND
2018-09-27S759578ND
2018-10-01S759584ND
2018-10-10S759589ND
2018-11-13S757811ND
2018-12-13S759670ND
2019-01-03S759674ND
2019-02-14S759627ND
2019-03-20S759683ND
2019-03-26S817083ND
2019-04-11S759691ND
2019-05-14S759700ND
2019-06-10S759286ND
2019-07-25S759730ND
2019-08-13S759742ND
2019-09-25S759709ND
2019-10-15S759712ND
2019-11-06S759355ND
2019-12-10S919989ND
2020-01-08S759364ND
2020-02-10S922977ND
2020-02-10S920066ND
2020-03-04S922984ND
2020-04-06S922989ND
2020-05-07S923019ND
2020-06-16S923027ND
2020-07-29S919992ND
2020-08-10S923033ND
2020-09-22S992024ND
2020-10-13S992012ND
2020-11-17S992019ND
2020-12-07S998271ND
2021-01-21S992071ND
2021-02-02S1035191ND
2021-03-08S992077ND
2021-04-14S923107ND
2021-05-10S923079ND
2021-06-04S923082ND
2021-07-02S923152ND
2021-08-03S923159ND
2021-09-03S1113069ND
2021-10-08S923202ND
2021-11-12S1073503ND
2021-12-03S1073513ND
2022-01-10S923190ND
2022-01-21S1136809ND
2022-02-08S1073790ND
2022-03-09S1073517ND
2022-04-07S1073797ND
2022-05-06S1073567ND
2022-06-10S1073568ND
2022-07-01S1073549ND
2022-08-12S1073535ND
2022-09-02S923173ND
2022-10-04S1223022ND
2022-11-18S1073553ND
2022-12-02S1073555ND
2023-01-10S1223050ND
2023-02-09S1223057ND
2023-03-06S1223089ND
2023-03-09S1257069ND
2023-04-21S1223065ND
2023-05-12S1223076ND
2023-06-02S1223082ND
2023-07-25S923117ND
2023-08-18S1073894ND
2023-09-22S1223101ND
2023-10-06S1223068ND
2023-11-22S1073902ND
2023-12-21S1073858ND