Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Bridgton 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.

 

76

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.814 ppm1412ND - 1.60 ppm
20190.808 ppm12120.200 ppm - 1.000 ppm
20200.777 ppm13130.400 ppm - 1.10 ppm
20210.833 ppm12120.600 ppm - 1.000 ppm
20221.08 ppm12120.700 ppm - 1.30 ppm
20231.03 ppm13130.740 ppm - 1.30 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
2018-01-091800290-010.800 ppm
2018-02-211719505-010.800 ppm
2018-03-191802053-010.800 ppm
2018-04-101806050-010.800 ppm
2018-05-081808304-010.800 ppm
2018-06-191810608-010.800 ppm
2018-06-261806-03214-003ND
2018-06-261806-03216-003ND
2018-07-161812696-010.800 ppm
2018-08-131815736-010.800 ppm
2018-09-241817841-011.60 ppm
2018-10-221803443-011.20 ppm
2018-11-131819453-011.20 ppm
2018-12-101821917-011.000 ppm
2019-01-071823447-011.000 ppm
2019-02-111902044-010.900 ppm
2019-03-121903230-011.000 ppm
2019-04-091900187-010.900 ppm
2019-05-201907661-010.800 ppm
2019-06-171909622-010.700 ppm
2019-07-161912773-010.800 ppm
2019-08-201914763-010.200 ppm
2019-09-091916414-010.700 ppm
2019-10-071918117-010.800 ppm
2019-11-041920506-011.000 ppm
2019-12-091921595-010.900 ppm
2020-01-061905439-010.800 ppm
2020-02-102000026-010.700 ppm
2020-03-102003068-010.700 ppm
2020-04-082001907-010.800 ppm
2020-05-122007578-011.10 ppm
2020-06-082009526-010.700 ppm
2020-07-202012199-010.700 ppm
2020-08-242014574-010.600 ppm
2020-08-262003360-010.400 ppm
2020-09-282016129-010.600 ppm
2020-10-132017736-011.000 ppm
2020-11-162020783-010.900 ppm
2020-12-072022157-011.10 ppm
2021-01-192023382-010.800 ppm
2021-02-082100665-010.800 ppm
2021-03-092102026-010.700 ppm
2021-04-052104519-010.600 ppm
2021-05-102106803-011.000 ppm
2021-06-142108713-010.900 ppm
2021-07-272110959-010.900 ppm
2021-08-252113453-010.900 ppm
2021-09-072115421-010.800 ppm
2021-10-122117179-010.700 ppm
2021-11-082119592-010.900 ppm
2021-12-132120587-011.000 ppm
2022-01-102121696-011.000 ppm
2022-02-092200883-011.10 ppm
2022-03-082202208-011.10 ppm
2022-04-112204885-011.000 ppm
2022-05-162206832-010.700 ppm
2022-06-142208616-011.10 ppm
2022-07-192210754-011.000 ppm
2022-08-172212727-011.000 ppm
2022-09-072214729-011.20 ppm
2022-10-172216748-011.20 ppm
2022-11-082218292-011.30 ppm
2022-12-122219796-011.20 ppm
2023-01-112221040-011.05 ppm
2023-02-142301145-010.820 ppm
2023-03-082303106-011.000 ppm
2023-04-102305529-010.990 ppm
2023-05-082307629-011.10 ppm
2023-06-122309471-011.10 ppm
2023-07-102312548-011.10 ppm
2023-08-082303356-010.980 ppm
2023-08-082314363-010.910 ppm
2023-09-112316974-010.740 ppm
2023-10-102318754-011.10 ppm
2023-11-132320797-011.20 ppm
2023-12-122322243-011.30 ppm