Fluoride
City of Plant City Utility
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2014 | 0.538 ppm | 90 | 90 | 0.300 ppm - 0.940 ppm |
2015 | 0.634 ppm | 32 | 32 | 0.490 ppm - 0.770 ppm |
2016 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2017 | 0.634 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.362 ppm - 0.745 ppm |
2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2019 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
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 |
---|---|
2014-01-02 | 0.560 ppm |
2014-01-02 | 0.620 ppm |
2014-01-02 | 0.580 ppm |
2014-01-02 | 0.560 ppm |
2014-01-16 | 0.620 ppm |
2014-01-16 | 0.580 ppm |
2014-01-16 | 0.550 ppm |
2014-01-16 | 0.570 ppm |
2014-01-16 | 0.600 ppm |
2014-01-16 | 0.550 ppm |
2014-01-16 | 0.550 ppm |
2014-01-16 | 0.560 ppm |
2014-02-06 | 0.590 ppm |
2014-02-06 | 0.580 ppm |
2014-02-06 | 0.550 ppm |
2014-02-20 | 0.520 ppm |
2014-02-20 | 0.550 ppm |
2014-02-20 | 0.520 ppm |
2014-03-06 | 0.580 ppm |
2014-03-06 | 0.520 ppm |
2014-03-06 | 0.380 ppm |
2014-03-06 | 0.570 ppm |
2014-03-20 | 0.610 ppm |
2014-03-20 | 0.600 ppm |
2014-03-20 | 0.590 ppm |
2014-03-20 | 0.510 ppm |
2014-04-04 | 0.510 ppm |
2014-04-04 | 0.480 ppm |
2014-04-04 | 0.540 ppm |
2014-04-04 | 0.490 ppm |
2014-04-17 | 0.420 ppm |
2014-04-17 | 0.530 ppm |
2014-04-17 | 0.420 ppm |
2014-04-17 | 0.530 ppm |
2014-05-01 | 0.470 ppm |
2014-05-01 | 0.470 ppm |
2014-05-01 | 0.530 ppm |
2014-05-01 | 0.480 ppm |
2014-05-15 | 0.530 ppm |
2014-05-15 | 0.530 ppm |
2014-05-15 | 0.310 ppm |
2014-05-15 | 0.390 ppm |
2014-06-05 | 0.570 ppm |
2014-06-05 | 0.560 ppm |
2014-06-05 | 0.550 ppm |
2014-06-05 | 0.500 ppm |
2014-06-19 | 0.510 ppm |
2014-06-19 | 0.400 ppm |
2014-06-19 | 0.480 ppm |
2014-06-19 | 0.500 ppm |
2014-07-08 | 0.540 ppm |
2014-07-08 | 0.480 ppm |
2014-07-08 | 0.500 ppm |
2014-07-08 | 0.510 ppm |
2014-07-17 | 0.550 ppm |
2014-07-17 | 0.640 ppm |
2014-07-17 | 0.640 ppm |
2014-07-17 | 0.630 ppm |
2014-08-07 | 0.490 ppm |
2014-08-07 | 0.570 ppm |
2014-08-07 | 0.520 ppm |
2014-08-07 | 0.300 ppm |
2014-08-21 | 0.610 ppm |
2014-08-21 | 0.320 ppm |
2014-08-21 | 0.600 ppm |
2014-08-21 | 0.420 ppm |
2014-09-04 | 0.630 ppm |
2014-09-04 | 0.330 ppm |
2014-09-04 | 0.630 ppm |
2014-09-04 | 0.430 ppm |
2014-09-18 | 0.620 ppm |
2014-09-18 | 0.320 ppm |
2014-09-18 | 0.660 ppm |
2014-09-18 | 0.630 ppm |
2014-10-03 | 0.630 ppm |
2014-10-03 | 0.610 ppm |
2014-10-03 | 0.600 ppm |
2014-10-03 | 0.300 ppm |
2014-10-16 | 0.630 ppm |
2014-10-16 | 0.620 ppm |
2014-10-16 | 0.660 ppm |
2014-10-16 | 0.330 ppm |
2014-12-04 | 0.680 ppm |
2014-12-04 | 0.630 ppm |
2014-12-04 | 0.630 ppm |
2014-12-04 | 0.580 ppm |
2014-12-18 | 0.330 ppm |
2014-12-18 | 0.940 ppm |
2014-12-18 | 0.620 ppm |
2014-12-18 | 0.790 ppm |
2015-01-08 | 0.600 ppm |
2015-01-08 | 0.640 ppm |
2015-01-08 | 0.690 ppm |
2015-01-08 | 0.770 ppm |
2015-01-08 | 0.770 ppm |
2015-01-08 | 0.690 ppm |
2015-01-08 | 0.600 ppm |
2015-01-08 | 0.640 ppm |
2015-01-15 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-01-15 | 0.600 ppm |
2015-01-15 | 0.660 ppm |
2015-01-15 | 0.520 ppm |
2015-01-15 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-01-15 | 0.660 ppm |
2015-01-15 | 0.600 ppm |
2015-01-15 | 0.520 ppm |
2015-02-05 | 0.660 ppm |
2015-02-05 | 0.550 ppm |
2015-02-05 | 0.640 ppm |
2015-02-05 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-02-05 | 0.660 ppm |
2015-02-05 | 0.640 ppm |
2015-02-05 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-02-05 | 0.550 ppm |
2015-02-19 | 0.660 ppm |
2015-02-19 | 0.730 ppm |
2015-02-19 | 0.530 ppm |
2015-02-19 | 0.490 ppm |
2015-02-19 | 0.660 ppm |
2015-02-19 | 0.530 ppm |
2015-02-19 | 0.730 ppm |
2015-02-19 | 0.490 ppm |
2017-02-28 | 0.688 ppm |
2017-02-28 | 0.362 ppm |
2017-02-28 | 0.742 ppm |
2017-02-28 | 0.745 ppm |
2017-02-28 | 0.362 ppm |
2017-02-28 | 0.688 ppm |
2017-02-28 | 0.742 ppm |
2017-02-28 | 0.745 ppm |