Fluoride

City of Alexandria Water System

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.

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226

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	1.49 ppm	22	22	0.600 ppm - 2.30 ppm
2015	0.839 ppm	18	18	0.500 ppm - 1.50 ppm
2016	0.573 ppm	72	66	ND - 2.60 ppm
2017	1.76 ppm	14	14	0.530 ppm - 2.40 ppm
2018	2.35 ppm	4	4	2.30 ppm - 2.40 ppm
2019	0.760 ppm	96	78	ND - 2.60 ppm

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	Lab ID	Result
2014-02-26	AD89692	2.20 ppm
2014-02-26	AD89693	2.10 ppm
2014-02-26	AD89694	2.30 ppm
2014-02-26	AD89692	2.20 ppm
2014-02-26	AD89693	2.10 ppm
2014-02-26	AD89694	2.30 ppm
2014-06-30	AD93018	1.70 ppm
2014-06-30	AD93019	0.600 ppm
2014-06-30	AD93018	1.70 ppm
2014-06-30	AD93019	0.600 ppm
2014-08-29	AD96306	2.10 ppm
2014-08-29	AD96307	1.80 ppm
2014-08-29	AD96308	0.600 ppm
2014-08-29	AD96306	2.10 ppm
2014-08-29	AD96307	1.80 ppm
2014-08-29	AD96308	0.600 ppm
2014-12-01	AE00163	1.30 ppm
2014-12-01	AE00164	0.900 ppm
2014-12-01	AE00165	0.800 ppm
2014-12-01	AE00163	1.30 ppm
2014-12-01	AE00164	0.900 ppm
2014-12-01	AE00165	0.800 ppm
2015-03-30	35181991001	0.670 ppm
2015-03-30	35181991002	0.920 ppm
2015-03-30	35181991005	0.720 ppm
2015-03-30	35181991001	0.670 ppm
2015-03-30	35181991002	0.920 ppm
2015-03-30	35181991005	0.720 ppm
2015-05-13	35189217001	0.560 ppm
2015-05-13	35189217002	0.620 ppm
2015-05-13	35189217001	0.560 ppm
2015-05-13	35189217002	0.620 ppm
2015-09-08	35206364012	1.50 ppm
2015-09-08	35206364013	0.560 ppm
2015-09-08	35206364012	1.50 ppm
2015-09-08	35206364013	0.560 ppm
2015-11-23	35218494008	0.500 ppm
2015-11-23	35218494009	1.50 ppm
2015-11-23	35218494008	0.500 ppm
2015-11-23	35218494009	1.50 ppm
2016-05-10	35244408001	0.540 ppm
2016-05-10	35244408002	0.0540 ppm
2016-05-10	35244408003	0.0690 ppm
2016-05-10	35244408004	1.000 ppm
2016-05-10	35244408005	0.890 ppm
2016-05-10	35244408001	0.540 ppm
2016-05-10	35244408002	0.0540 ppm
2016-05-10	35244408003	0.0690 ppm
2016-05-10	35244408004	1.000 ppm
2016-05-10	35244408005	0.890 ppm
2016-05-18	35245776001	0.930 ppm
2016-05-18	35245776002	0.0650 ppm
2016-05-18	35245776003	0.0800 ppm
2016-05-18	35245776004	1.10 ppm
2016-05-18	35245776005	0.0870 ppm
2016-05-18	35245776001	0.930 ppm
2016-05-18	35245776002	0.0650 ppm
2016-05-18	35245776003	0.0800 ppm
2016-05-18	35245776004	1.10 ppm
2016-05-18	35245776005	0.0870 ppm
2016-05-25	35246558001	0.0580 ppm
2016-05-25	35246558002	0.1000 ppm
2016-05-25	35246558003	0.1000 ppm
2016-05-25	35246558004	0.120 ppm
2016-05-25	35246558005	0.960 ppm
2016-05-25	35246558001	0.0580 ppm
2016-05-25	35246558002	0.1000 ppm
2016-05-25	35246558003	0.1000 ppm
2016-05-25	35246558004	0.120 ppm
2016-05-25	35246558005	0.960 ppm
2016-06-06	35248060001	0.0860 ppm
2016-06-06	35248060002	0.0670 ppm
2016-06-06	35248060003	0.990 ppm
2016-06-06	35248060004	0.120 ppm
2016-06-06	35248060005	0.0930 ppm
2016-06-06	35248060001	0.0860 ppm
2016-06-06	35248060002	0.0670 ppm
2016-06-06	35248060003	0.990 ppm
2016-06-06	35248060004	0.120 ppm
2016-06-06	35248060005	0.0930 ppm
2016-06-15	35250015001	2.60 ppm
2016-06-15	35250015002	0.980 ppm
2016-06-15	35250015003	1.30 ppm
2016-06-15	35250015004	0.510 ppm
2016-06-15	35250015005	0.0560 ppm
2016-06-15	35250015001	2.60 ppm
2016-06-15	35250015002	0.980 ppm
2016-06-15	35250015003	1.30 ppm
2016-06-15	35250015004	0.510 ppm
2016-06-15	35250015005	0.0560 ppm
2016-07-19	35255757001	ND
2016-07-19	35255757002	0.420 ppm
2016-07-19	35255757001	ND
2016-07-19	35255757002	0.420 ppm
2016-08-09	35259194001	1.60 ppm
2016-08-09	35259194002	1.50 ppm
2016-08-09	35259194003	ND
2016-08-09	35259194004	0.890 ppm
2016-08-09	35259194005	ND
2016-08-09	35259194001	1.60 ppm
2016-08-09	35259194002	1.50 ppm
2016-08-09	35259194003	ND
2016-08-09	35259194004	0.890 ppm
2016-08-09	35259194005	ND
2016-10-05	35271142005	0.720 ppm
2016-10-05	35271142005	0.720 ppm
2016-11-09	35276653001	0.730 ppm
2016-11-09	35276653002	0.800 ppm
2016-11-09	35276653001	0.730 ppm
2016-11-09	35276653002	0.800 ppm
2016-12-14	35283929004	1.000 ppm
2016-12-14	35283929004	1.000 ppm
2017-03-08	35299871001	2.10 ppm
2017-03-08	35299871002	0.530 ppm
2017-03-08	35299871001	2.10 ppm
2017-03-08	35299871002	0.530 ppm
2017-08-07	35329426006	1.10 ppm
2017-08-07	35329426006	1.10 ppm
2017-11-02	35345825001	2.30 ppm
2017-11-02	35345825002	1.50 ppm
2017-11-02	35345825001	2.30 ppm
2017-11-02	35345825002	1.50 ppm
2017-11-29	35360706005	2.40 ppm
2017-11-29	35360706006	2.40 ppm
2017-11-29	35360706005	2.40 ppm
2017-11-29	35360706006	2.40 ppm
2018-02-28	35377634001	2.40 ppm
2018-02-28	35377634001	2.40 ppm
2018-05-02	35389925001	2.30 ppm
2018-05-02	35389925001	2.30 ppm
2019-01-30	35445470001	ND
2019-01-30	35445470002	ND
2019-01-30	35445470004	0.0940 ppm
2019-01-30	35445470005	0.120 ppm
2019-01-30	35445470001	ND
2019-01-30	35445470002	ND
2019-01-30	35445470004	0.0940 ppm
2019-01-30	35445470005	0.120 ppm
2019-02-06	35446987001	ND
2019-02-06	35446987002	ND
2019-02-06	35446987003	ND
2019-02-06	35446987004	ND
2019-02-06	35446987005	ND
2019-02-06	35446987001	ND
2019-02-06	35446987002	ND
2019-02-06	35446987003	ND
2019-02-06	35446987004	ND
2019-02-06	35446987005	ND
2019-02-27	35451250001	0.450 ppm
2019-02-27	35451250002	1.50 ppm
2019-02-27	35451250003	0.700 ppm
2019-02-27	35451250004	0.650 ppm
2019-02-27	35451250005	1.40 ppm
2019-02-27	35451250001	0.450 ppm
2019-02-27	35451250002	1.50 ppm
2019-02-27	35451250003	0.700 ppm
2019-02-27	35451250004	0.650 ppm
2019-02-27	35451250005	1.40 ppm
2019-03-13	35454676001	0.130 ppm
2019-03-13	35454676002	0.780 ppm
2019-03-13	35454676003	0.0640 ppm
2019-03-13	35454676004	1.000 ppm
2019-03-13	35454676001	0.130 ppm
2019-03-13	35454676002	0.780 ppm
2019-03-13	35454676003	0.0640 ppm
2019-03-13	35454676004	1.000 ppm
2019-03-20	35456260001	0.980 ppm
2019-03-20	35456260002	1.000 ppm
2019-03-20	35456260003	0.0620 ppm
2019-03-20	35456260004	0.0970 ppm
2019-03-20	35456260005	0.120 ppm
2019-03-20	35456260001	0.980 ppm
2019-03-20	35456260002	1.000 ppm
2019-03-20	35456260003	0.0620 ppm
2019-03-20	35456260004	0.0970 ppm
2019-03-20	35456260005	0.120 ppm
2019-03-27	35457693001	0.490 ppm
2019-03-27	35457693002	0.0580 ppm
2019-03-27	35457693003	1.10 ppm
2019-03-27	35457693004	1.000 ppm
2019-03-27	35457693005	0.0780 ppm
2019-03-27	35457693001	0.490 ppm
2019-03-27	35457693002	0.0580 ppm
2019-03-27	35457693003	1.10 ppm
2019-03-27	35457693004	1.000 ppm
2019-03-27	35457693005	0.0780 ppm
2019-04-10	35461050001	1.40 ppm
2019-04-10	35461050002	0.810 ppm
2019-04-10	35461050003	2.60 ppm
2019-04-10	35461050004	2.20 ppm
2019-04-10	35461050005	1.70 ppm
2019-04-10	35461050001	1.40 ppm
2019-04-10	35461050002	0.810 ppm
2019-04-10	35461050003	2.60 ppm
2019-04-10	35461050004	2.20 ppm
2019-04-10	35461050005	1.70 ppm
2019-05-07	35467880001	2.40 ppm
2019-05-07	35467880002	2.20 ppm
2019-05-07	35467880003	1.50 ppm
2019-05-07	35467880001	2.40 ppm
2019-05-07	35467880002	2.20 ppm
2019-05-07	35467880003	1.50 ppm
2019-06-06	B1902352-001	1.000 ppm
2019-06-06	B1902352-002	1.10 ppm
2019-06-06	B1902352-003	ND
2019-06-06	B1902352-001	1.000 ppm
2019-06-06	B1902352-002	1.10 ppm
2019-06-06	B1902352-003	ND
2019-07-25	B1903186-001	0.900 ppm
2019-07-25	B1903186-001	0.900 ppm
2019-09-11	B1904050-001	0.600 ppm
2019-09-11	B1904050-002	1.50 ppm
2019-09-11	B1904050-003	1.40 ppm
2019-09-11	B1904050-001	0.600 ppm
2019-09-11	B1904050-002	1.50 ppm
2019-09-11	B1904050-003	1.40 ppm
2019-12-04	B1905453-001	0.500 ppm
2019-12-04	B1905453-002	ND
2019-12-04	B1905453-003	0.800 ppm
2019-12-04	B1905453-004	1.40 ppm
2019-12-04	B1905453-005	0.600 ppm
2019-12-04	B1905453-001	0.500 ppm
2019-12-04	B1905453-002	ND
2019-12-04	B1905453-003	0.800 ppm
2019-12-04	B1905453-004	1.40 ppm
2019-12-04	B1905453-005	0.600 ppm