Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Pratt, 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.

 

22

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018N/A00N/A
20190.161 ppm109ND - 0.260 ppm
2020N/A00N/A
20210.220 ppm110.220 ppm
20220.170 ppm106ND - 0.360 ppm
2023ND10ND

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
2019-03-1811377190.170 ppm
2019-03-1811377200.150 ppm
2019-03-1811377210.190 ppm
2019-03-1811377220.180 ppm
2019-03-1811377230.160 ppm
2019-03-1911381650.180 ppm
2019-03-1911381660.170 ppm
2019-03-1911381670.150 ppm
2019-03-191138168ND
2019-03-1911381640.260 ppm
2021-04-1318172970.220 ppm
2022-03-2122195200.290 ppm
2022-03-2122195210.250 ppm
2022-03-2122195220.250 ppm
2022-03-212219523ND
2022-03-212219524ND
2022-03-2122195250.360 ppm
2022-03-2122195260.270 ppm
2022-03-212219527ND
2022-03-212219528ND
2022-03-2122195290.280 ppm
2023-10-102589869ND