Fluoride
City of Stuart - Water Plant
Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems. Read More.
Fluoride has been promoted as a chemical that reduces dental cavities. Yet it is now well-established that fluoride primarily exerts its protective effects through topical mechanisms, such as sodium fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. In contrast, long-term ingestion of fluoride in water increases dental fluorosis, which includes mottling, pitting and weakening of the teeth. 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 fractures, although these effects may occur at lower doses.
Even fluoride levels of 0.7 ppm, the amount of fluoride in drinking water recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service, can result in too much fluoride for bottle-fed babies. EWG recommends that caregivers mix baby formula with fluoride-free water. The National Toxicology Program is investigating the potential for low doses of fluoride to alter thyroid function and childhood brain development.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 0.387 ppm | 18 | 18 | 0.310 ppm - 0.460 ppm |
2015 | 0.484 ppm | 18 | 18 | 0.430 ppm - 0.560 ppm |
2016 | 0.437 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.330 ppm - 0.550 ppm |
2017 | 0.386 ppm | 28 | 27 | ND - 0.510 ppm |
2018 | 0.440 ppm | 38 | 38 | 0.330 ppm - 0.580 ppm |
2019 | 0.417 ppm | 32 | 32 | 0.240 ppm - 0.590 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 4 ppm
ppm = parts per million
All test results
Date | Result |
---|---|
2014-03-12 | 0.350 ppm |
2014-03-12 | 0.340 ppm |
2014-04-07 | 0.310 ppm |
2014-04-08 | 0.330 ppm |
2014-05-21 | 0.440 ppm |
2014-05-21 | 0.440 ppm |
2014-06-24 | 0.380 ppm |
2014-06-24 | 0.380 ppm |
2014-07-07 | 0.430 ppm |
2014-07-28 | 0.380 ppm |
2014-07-28 | 0.370 ppm |
2014-08-18 | 0.360 ppm |
2014-08-20 | 0.380 ppm |
2014-11-05 | 0.310 ppm |
2014-11-05 | 0.450 ppm |
2014-12-02 | 0.390 ppm |
2014-12-02 | 0.460 ppm |
2014-12-16 | 0.460 ppm |
2015-03-03 | 0.530 ppm |
2015-03-03 | 0.440 ppm |
2015-04-01 | 0.510 ppm |
2015-04-01 | 0.520 ppm |
2015-05-04 | 0.460 ppm |
2015-05-04 | 0.450 ppm |
2015-06-01 | 0.460 ppm |
2015-06-01 | 0.470 ppm |
2015-07-08 | 0.480 ppm |
2015-07-08 | 0.490 ppm |
2015-08-06 | 0.540 ppm |
2015-08-06 | 0.560 ppm |
2015-09-10 | 0.480 ppm |
2015-09-10 | 0.460 ppm |
2015-10-06 | 0.450 ppm |
2015-10-06 | 0.470 ppm |
2015-11-10 | 0.520 ppm |
2015-11-10 | 0.430 ppm |
2016-01-12 | 0.520 ppm |
2016-01-12 | 0.550 ppm |
2016-02-04 | 0.450 ppm |
2016-02-04 | 0.440 ppm |
2016-03-10 | 0.480 ppm |
2016-03-10 | 0.440 ppm |
2016-06-03 | 0.420 ppm |
2016-06-03 | 0.420 ppm |
2016-11-18 | 0.420 ppm |
2016-11-18 | 0.430 ppm |
2016-12-30 | 0.340 ppm |
2016-12-30 | 0.330 ppm |
2017-01-20 | 0.360 ppm |
2017-01-20 | 0.360 ppm |
2017-02-20 | 0.510 ppm |
2017-02-20 | 0.510 ppm |
2017-03-23 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-03-23 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-04-21 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-04-21 | 0.410 ppm |
2017-05-24 | ND |
2017-05-24 | 0.430 ppm |
2017-05-26 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-05-26 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-06-26 | 0.450 ppm |
2017-06-26 | 0.450 ppm |
2017-06-26 | 0.450 ppm |
2017-07-21 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-07-21 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-07-21 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-07-21 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-08-25 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-08-25 | 0.380 ppm |
2017-09-15 | 0.350 ppm |
2017-09-15 | 0.350 ppm |
2017-11-28 | 0.370 ppm |
2017-11-28 | 0.400 ppm |
2017-11-28 | 0.400 ppm |
2017-12-07 | 0.420 ppm |
2017-12-07 | 0.420 ppm |
2018-01-26 | 0.360 ppm |
2018-01-26 | 0.360 ppm |
2018-01-26 | 0.360 ppm |
2018-01-26 | 0.360 ppm |
2018-02-23 | 0.390 ppm |
2018-02-23 | 0.390 ppm |
2018-02-23 | 0.390 ppm |
2018-02-23 | 0.390 ppm |
2018-03-28 | 0.380 ppm |
2018-03-28 | 0.380 ppm |
2018-03-28 | 0.380 ppm |
2018-03-28 | 0.380 ppm |
2018-04-27 | 0.340 ppm |
2018-04-27 | 0.330 ppm |
2018-04-27 | 0.330 ppm |
2018-04-27 | 0.340 ppm |
2018-05-30 | 0.410 ppm |
2018-05-30 | 0.520 ppm |
2018-05-30 | 0.410 ppm |
2018-05-30 | 0.520 ppm |
2018-06-25 | 0.580 ppm |
2018-06-25 | 0.580 ppm |
2018-06-25 | 0.580 ppm |
2018-06-28 | 0.580 ppm |
2018-09-26 | 0.530 ppm |
2018-09-26 | 0.540 ppm |
2018-09-26 | 0.540 ppm |
2018-09-26 | 0.530 ppm |
2018-10-24 | 0.500 ppm |
2018-10-24 | 0.470 ppm |
2018-11-30 | 0.440 ppm |
2018-11-30 | 0.420 ppm |
2018-11-30 | 0.440 ppm |
2018-11-30 | 0.420 ppm |
2018-12-13 | 0.460 ppm |
2018-12-13 | 0.470 ppm |
2018-12-13 | 0.460 ppm |
2018-12-13 | 0.470 ppm |
2019-01-28 | 0.340 ppm |
2019-01-28 | 0.350 ppm |
2019-01-28 | 0.340 ppm |
2019-01-28 | 0.350 ppm |
2019-02-26 | 0.370 ppm |
2019-02-26 | 0.360 ppm |
2019-02-26 | 0.370 ppm |
2019-02-26 | 0.360 ppm |
2019-03-22 | 0.390 ppm |
2019-03-22 | 0.390 ppm |
2019-03-22 | 0.390 ppm |
2019-03-22 | 0.390 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.450 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.430 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.430 ppm |
2019-04-26 | 0.450 ppm |
2019-05-22 | 0.420 ppm |
2019-05-22 | 0.440 ppm |
2019-06-18 | 0.380 ppm |
2019-06-18 | 0.380 ppm |
2019-06-26 | 0.480 ppm |
2019-06-26 | 0.520 ppm |
2019-07-26 | 0.460 ppm |
2019-07-26 | 0.450 ppm |
2019-08-28 | 0.250 ppm |
2019-08-28 | 0.240 ppm |
2019-09-20 | 0.400 ppm |
2019-09-20 | 0.540 ppm |
2019-10-31 | 0.550 ppm |
2019-10-31 | 0.540 ppm |
2019-12-16 | 0.550 ppm |
2019-12-16 | 0.590 ppm |