Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Herington, City of

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.

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.350 ppm550.300 ppm - 0.420 ppm
20190.230 ppm54ND - 0.350 ppm
20200.332 ppm550.260 ppm - 0.380 ppm
20210.374 ppm550.360 ppm - 0.410 ppm
20220.308 ppm550.260 ppm - 0.340 ppm
20230.332 ppm550.290 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
2018-01-229080390.300 ppm
2018-04-039382770.300 ppm
2018-04-169382800.400 ppm
2018-07-0910026830.420 ppm
2018-10-1510609180.330 ppm
2019-01-0711018940.290 ppm
2019-04-0811393020.260 ppm
2019-04-1511393030.350 ppm
2019-07-081200013ND
2019-10-0712534060.250 ppm
2020-01-0712989210.260 ppm
2020-04-0713515540.340 ppm
2020-04-2013603100.320 ppm
2020-07-1314399370.380 ppm
2020-11-1616615750.360 ppm
2021-01-0417299720.360 ppm
2021-04-0618129460.370 ppm
2021-04-1318173180.360 ppm
2021-07-1218814160.370 ppm
2021-10-1119855060.410 ppm
2022-01-1121343540.330 ppm
2022-04-1222358390.300 ppm
2022-04-1922399270.260 ppm
2022-07-0522954650.310 ppm
2022-11-2124020120.340 ppm
2023-02-1324494750.300 ppm
2023-05-0824972230.290 ppm
2023-05-2325055430.310 ppm
2023-08-2125611670.400 ppm
2023-11-1326099750.360 ppm