Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Veiola Water Idaho

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.

 

99

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.294 ppm15150.120 ppm - 0.450 ppm
20190.471 ppm2019ND - 2.93 ppm
20200.411 ppm18180.150 ppm - 1.20 ppm
20210.494 ppm20200.210 ppm - 2.87 ppm
20220.511 ppm15150.200 ppm - 2.65 ppm
20230.411 ppm11110.210 ppm - 0.570 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
2018-02-05I18049860.220 ppm
2018-02-06I18052800.280 ppm
2018-02-12I18061510.270 ppm
2018-05-15I18218630.390 ppm
2018-05-15I18218510.430 ppm
2018-06-06I18255830.450 ppm
2018-06-06I18255810.380 ppm
2018-06-21I18286040.280 ppm
2018-06-21I18286030.340 ppm
2018-06-21I18286060.400 ppm
2018-06-21I18286080.230 ppm
2018-06-26I18293420.200 ppm
2018-06-26I18293450.210 ppm
2018-06-26I18293410.120 ppm
2018-07-02I18305780.210 ppm
2019-02-19I19073860.310 ppm
2019-02-19I19073880.370 ppm
2019-03-06I19098680.320 ppm
2019-03-06I19098650.300 ppm
2019-03-13I19112090.320 ppm
2019-04-17I1917321ND
2019-04-18I1917760.320 ppm
2019-06-12I19279720.590 ppm
2019-06-20I19296540.430 ppm
2019-07-03I19321180.140 ppm
2019-07-10I19333460.220 ppm
2019-07-10I19333450.140 ppm
2019-07-19I19352670.310 ppm
2019-07-19I19352660.360 ppm
2019-07-23I19357550.990 ppm
2019-08-06I19386030.200 ppm
2019-08-28I19429322.93 ppm
2019-08-28I19429300.400 ppm
2019-09-05I19445230.480 ppm
2019-10-09I19510140.290 ppm
2020-01-29I20042860.310 ppm
2020-01-29I20042870.310 ppm
2020-05-11I20211680.350 ppm
2020-05-12I20213770.390 ppm
2020-05-27I20241790.320 ppm
2020-06-24I20296840.600 ppm
2020-06-24I20296900.660 ppm
2020-06-24I20296850.550 ppm
2020-06-25I20299670.390 ppm
2020-06-25I20299610.240 ppm
2020-06-25I20299700.230 ppm
2020-06-25I20299500.260 ppm
2020-07-06I20313700.410 ppm
2020-07-09I20323201.20 ppm
2020-07-21I2034470.300 ppm
2020-07-29I20361780.150 ppm
2020-10-13I20512510.360 ppm
2020-10-13I20612510.360 ppm
2021-02-10I21064460.370 ppm
2021-02-10I21064420.410 ppm
2021-02-10I21064450.380 ppm
2021-02-22I21081100.470 ppm
2021-02-23I21083070.300 ppm
2021-02-25I21088810.220 ppm
2021-02-25I21088820.210 ppm
2021-03-10I21112040.360 ppm
2021-03-10I21112010.300 ppm
2021-03-31I21144610.330 ppm
2021-03-31I21144640.290 ppm
2021-04-14I21168750.390 ppm
2021-04-14I21168800.210 ppm
2021-04-21I21182680.420 ppm
2021-06-02I21266240.890 ppm
2021-06-14I21291940.380 ppm
2021-06-16I21297460.310 ppm
2021-07-06I21334162.87 ppm
2021-07-07I21339710.330 ppm
2021-10-12I21546370.430 ppm
2022-02-08I22063510.380 ppm
2022-02-28I22094780.470 ppm
2022-05-04I22213180.250 ppm
2022-05-11I22225750.430 ppm
2022-06-08I22272830.200 ppm
2022-06-28I22308430.330 ppm
2022-06-28I22308560.490 ppm
2022-06-28I22308460.350 ppm
2022-07-12I22331242.65 ppm
2022-07-12I22331250.330 ppm
2022-07-12I22331260.400 ppm
2022-07-12I22331230.260 ppm
2022-07-19I22345910.480 ppm
2022-07-26I22359010.340 ppm
2022-07-26I22359030.300 ppm
2023-03-08I2304392-060.360 ppm
2023-03-08I2304392-050.440 ppm
2023-04-26I2307945-020.390 ppm
2023-04-26I2307945-080.570 ppm
2023-04-26I2307945-090.370 ppm
2023-06-07I2311322-010.570 ppm
2023-06-14I2311829-010.210 ppm
2023-07-06I2313603-010.540 ppm
2023-07-26I2315525-010.300 ppm
2023-07-31I2315912-010.380 ppm
2023-11-01I2323670-010.390 ppm