Fluoride
Berwick Water Department
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.
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 | 0.692 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.600 ppm - 0.850 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.657 ppm | 14 | 13 | ND - 0.880 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.676 ppm | 14 | 14 | 0.580 ppm - 0.830 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.572 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.260 ppm - 0.860 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.704 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.230 ppm - 0.900 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.778 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.640 ppm - 1.000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-08 | 0.670 ppm | |
| 2014-02-11 | 0.610 ppm | |
| 2014-03-03 | 0.610 ppm | |
| 2014-04-16 | 0.730 ppm | |
| 2014-05-14 | 0.850 ppm | |
| 2014-06-30 | 0.680 ppm | |
| 2014-07-11 | 0.690 ppm | |
| 2014-08-07 | 0.730 ppm | |
| 2014-09-11 | 0.740 ppm | |
| 2014-10-16 | 0.680 ppm | |
| 2014-11-05 | 0.600 ppm | |
| 2014-11-05 | 0.620 ppm | |
| 2014-12-19 | 0.780 ppm | |
| 2015-01-22 | 215010369 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2015-02-06 | 215020085 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2015-03-23 | 215040535 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | 215040177 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2015-05-18 | 215050538 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2015-05-19 | 215050562 | ND |
| 2015-06-12 | 215060442 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-07-22 | 215070688 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2015-08-20 | 215080659 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2015-08-20 | 215080662 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2015-09-24 | 215090692 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2015-10-19 | 215100491 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2015-11-16 | 215110379 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2015-12-21 | 215120524 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2016-01-20 | 216010391 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2016-02-25 | 216020575 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2016-03-22 | 216030602 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2016-04-19 | 216040573 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2016-05-17 | 216050629 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2016-06-24 | 216061077 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2016-06-24 | 216061080 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 216070748 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2016-08-25 | 216081147 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2016-09-21 | 216090671 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2016-09-21 | 216090671.01 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2016-10-18 | 216100587 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2016-11-28 | 216110778 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2016-12-22 | 216120576 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2017-01-19 | 217010485 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2017-02-23 | 217020512 | 0.290 ppm |
| 2017-03-22 | 217030603 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2017-04-19 | 217040580.01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2017-05-23 | 217050991.01 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2017-06-21 | 217060918 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2017-07-19 | 217070637.01 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2017-07-19 | 217070639.01 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2017-08-21 | 217080941 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2017-09-22 | 217090890.01 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2017-10-17 | 217100518 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2017-11-22 | 217110721.01 | 0.260 ppm |
| 2017-12-18 | 217120510 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2018-01-23 | 218010500 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2018-02-21 | 218020513.01 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2018-03-20 | 218030550.01 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-04-17 | 218040525 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-05-22 | 218050869.01 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-06-19 | 218060798.01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2018-07-19 | 218070742.01 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2018-08-21 | 218080895.01 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2018-09-18 | 218090592.01 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2018-10-16 | 218100600.01 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2018-10-24 | 218100902.01 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2018-11-19 | 218110523.01 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2018-12-19 | 218120481.01 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | 219010613 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2019-02-20 | 219020547.01 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2019-03-20 | 219030528.01 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2019-04-22 | 219040865.01 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2019-05-23 | 219051044.01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2019-06-18 | 219060732.01 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2019-07-16 | 219070528.01 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2019-07-24 | 219070865.01 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2019-08-21 | 219080882.01 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2019-09-18 | 219090814.01 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2019-10-22 | 219100944.01 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-11-22 | 219110848.01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2019-12-16 | 219120506.01 | 0.680 ppm |