Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Meridian Water Department

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.

 

43

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.337 ppm990.150 ppm - 0.880 ppm
20190.740 ppm220.680 ppm - 0.800 ppm
20200.347 ppm23230.160 ppm - 0.880 ppm
20210.610 ppm220.590 ppm - 0.630 ppm
20220.180 ppm110.180 ppm
20230.277 ppm660.180 ppm - 0.400 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
2018-04-09I2018041208360.240 ppm
2018-04-09I2018041208370.880 ppm
2018-04-09I2018041208380.210 ppm
2018-04-09I2018041208390.260 ppm
2018-04-09I2018041208400.470 ppm
2018-04-09I2018041208410.200 ppm
2018-04-09I2018041208420.380 ppm
2018-04-09I2018041208430.240 ppm
2018-06-12I2018061311440.150 ppm
2019-03-04I2019030503070.800 ppm
2019-04-092019041001020.680 ppm
2020-03-102020031102530.530 ppm
2020-03-102020031102420.350 ppm
2020-03-172020031804870.180 ppm
2020-03-172020031804450.780 ppm
2020-03-172020031803410.880 ppm
2020-03-182020031901690.480 ppm
2020-04-072020040805580.160 ppm
2020-04-072020040805300.310 ppm
2020-04-142020041605130.330 ppm
2020-04-142020041504550.410 ppm
2020-08-052020080602430.300 ppm
2020-08-062020080704240.210 ppm
2020-08-062020080703950.220 ppm
2020-08-062020080704290.260 ppm
2020-08-132020081401950.250 ppm
2020-08-242020082606470.540 ppm
2020-08-242020082606460.220 ppm
2020-08-262020082800650.160 ppm
2020-11-232020112403420.310 ppm
2020-11-232020112403440.250 ppm
2020-11-242020112502840.180 ppm
2020-11-242020112502750.440 ppm
2020-12-022020120304820.240 ppm
2021-01-202021012102940.630 ppm
2021-07-212021072202760.590 ppm
2022-11-16380-28732-10.180 ppm
2023-08-01380-57235-10.220 ppm
2023-08-02380-57464-10.180 ppm
2023-08-07380-57899-10.400 ppm
2023-08-09380-58355-10.360 ppm
2023-08-09380-58481-10.290 ppm
2023-08-10380-58742-10.210 ppm