Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Boothbay Region Water District

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.

 

78

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.735 ppm13130.440 ppm - 0.930 ppm
20190.820 ppm13130.580 ppm - 0.970 ppm
20200.786 ppm13130.620 ppm - 1.04 ppm
20210.715 ppm13130.470 ppm - 0.910 ppm
20220.652 ppm1310ND - 1.12 ppm
20230.698 ppm13130.540 ppm - 0.910 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
2018-01-09180109-01050.440 ppm
2018-02-14180214-00810.930 ppm
2018-03-07180307-00610.490 ppm
2018-04-031803694-010.700 ppm
2018-04-23180423-00070.930 ppm
2018-05-09180509-00820.790 ppm
2018-06-131806-01811-0010.700 ppm
2018-07-171807-02141-0010.860 ppm
2018-08-081808-01243-0010.860 ppm
2018-09-121809-01468-0010.700 ppm
2018-10-161810-02087-0010.600 ppm
2018-11-141811-01488-0010.650 ppm
2018-12-121812-01278-0010.900 ppm
2019-01-081901-00587-0010.970 ppm
2019-02-141902-01215-0010.910 ppm
2019-03-181903-01550-0010.870 ppm
2019-03-191903372-010.600 ppm
2019-04-031904-00475-0010.900 ppm
2019-05-081905-01067-0010.930 ppm
2019-06-121906-01659-0010.830 ppm
2019-07-101907-01263-0010.920 ppm
2019-08-071908-01001-0010.670 ppm
2019-09-101909-01216-0010.580 ppm
2019-10-081910-01110-0010.910 ppm
2019-11-061911-00676-0010.830 ppm
2019-12-041912-00303-0010.740 ppm
2020-01-082001-00796-0011.04 ppm
2020-02-112002-00920-0010.950 ppm
2020-03-102003-01076-0010.770 ppm
2020-03-242003381-010.800 ppm
2020-04-152004-01328-0010.920 ppm
2020-05-132005-01407-0010.640 ppm
2020-06-102006-01551-0010.820 ppm
2020-07-142007-02048-0010.690 ppm
2020-08-122008-01827-0010.700 ppm
2020-09-142009-01896-0010.650 ppm
2020-10-142010-01946-0010.620 ppm
2020-11-122011-01583-0010.810 ppm
2020-12-082012-01146-0010.810 ppm
2021-01-132101-01459-0010.770 ppm
2021-02-102102-01068-0010.650 ppm
2021-03-102103-01332-0010.700 ppm
2021-04-132104-02041-0010.880 ppm
2021-05-122101604-010.900 ppm
2021-05-122105-01866-0010.910 ppm
2021-06-092106-01603-0010.770 ppm
2021-07-132107-01907-0010.700 ppm
2021-08-112108-01932-0010.630 ppm
2021-09-142109-02190-0010.650 ppm
2021-10-062110-00991-0010.710 ppm
2021-11-162111-02465-0010.560 ppm
2021-12-082112-01395-0010.470 ppm
2022-01-182201-02065-0010.520 ppm
2022-02-152202-01949-0010.820 ppm
2022-03-092203-01499-0010.820 ppm
2022-04-062203379-011.000 ppm
2022-04-062204-00988-0010.930 ppm
2022-05-122205-02201-0011.12 ppm
2022-06-142206-02439-0010.930 ppm
2022-07-262207-04933-0010.980 ppm
2022-08-102208-02541-0010.850 ppm
2022-09-082209-01477-001ND
2022-10-132210-02754-001ND
2022-11-152211-03293-001ND
2022-12-212212-03902-0010.510 ppm
2023-01-182301-03124-0010.540 ppm
2023-02-142302-02506-0010.560 ppm
2023-03-202303-03212-0010.750 ppm
2023-04-102304-01764-0010.610 ppm
2023-05-082305-01595-0010.690 ppm
2023-06-142306-03088-0010.760 ppm
2023-06-142303329-010.820 ppm
2023-07-122307-02216-0010.910 ppm
2023-08-092308-02428-0010.680 ppm
2023-09-122309-02563-0010.750 ppm
2023-10-162310-03550-0010.860 ppm
2023-11-142311-02705-0010.590 ppm
2023-12-122312-02023-0010.550 ppm