Fluoride
Indian Township Tribal 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.
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 | 0.795 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.500 ppm - 1.04 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.755 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.710 ppm - 0.800 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.786 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.650 ppm - 1.10 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.763 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.630 ppm - 1.000 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.642 ppm | 12 | 12 | 0.580 ppm - 0.710 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.618 ppm | 13 | 13 | 0.560 ppm - 0.760 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-22 | 0.980 ppm | |
| 2014-02-25 | 1.000 ppm | |
| 2014-03-12 | 1.04 ppm | |
| 2014-04-08 | 0.500 ppm | |
| 2014-04-16 | 0.640 ppm | |
| 2014-05-14 | 0.660 ppm | |
| 2014-06-10 | 0.760 ppm | |
| 2014-07-30 | 0.900 ppm | |
| 2014-08-26 | 0.900 ppm | |
| 2014-09-03 | 0.840 ppm | |
| 2014-10-08 | 0.730 ppm | |
| 2014-11-18 | 0.695 ppm | |
| 2014-12-08 | 0.690 ppm | |
| 2015-01-12 | 2015-01-064DW.2 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2015-02-11 | 2015-02-072DW.2 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2015-03-16 | 2015-03-096DW.2 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2015-04-13 | 2015-04-107DW.2 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2015-05-07 | 2015-05-076DW.2 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2015-06-15 | 2015-06-194DW.2 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2015-07-06 | 2015-07-064DW.2 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2015-08-26 | 2015-08-352DW.2 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2015-09-30 | 2015-10-021DW.2 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2015-10-27 | 2015-10-333DW.2 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2015-11-23 | 2015-11-220DW.2 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2015-12-07 | 2015-12-062DW.2 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2016-01-25 | 2016-01-204DW.2 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2016-02-02 | 2016-02-039DW.2 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2016-03-15 | 2016-03-135DW.2 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2016-04-11 | 2016-04-087DW.2 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2016-04-12 | L008562001 | 1.10 ppm |
| 2016-05-11 | 2016-05-185DW.2 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2016-06-22 | 2016-06-360DW.2 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2016-07-20 | 2016-07-270DW.2 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2016-08-24 | 2016-08-341DW.2 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2016-09-21 | 2016-09-280DW.2 | 0.860 ppm |
| 2016-10-25 | 2016-10-263DW.2 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2016-11-16 | 2016-11-156DW.2 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2016-12-13 | 2016-12-132DW.2 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2017-01-25 | 2017-01-209DW.2 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2017-02-22 | 2017-02-163DW.2 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2017-03-15 | 2017-03-131DW.2 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2017-03-21 | 1700981-01 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2017-04-12 | 2017-04-112DW.2 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-05-10 | 2017-05-168DW.2 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2017-06-26 | 2017-06-411DW.1 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2017-07-10 | 2017-07-094DW.2 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 2017-08-171DW.2 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2017-09-19 | 2017-09-280DW.2 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2017-10-16 | 2017-10-194DW.2 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2017-11-15 | 2017-11-185DW.2 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2017-12-11 | 2017-12-106DW.2 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2018-01-22 | 2018-01-178DW.2 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2018-02-14 | 2018-02-110DW.2 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2018-03-12 | 2018-03-111DW.2 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2018-04-17 | 2018-04-194DW.2 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2018-05-21 | 2018-05-327DW.2 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-06-06 | 2018-06-083DW.2 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2018-07-23 | 2018-07-353DW.2 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2018-08-21 | 2018-08-386DW.2 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2018-09-19 | 2018-09-303DW.2 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2018-10-24 | 2018-10-399DW.2 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-11-26 | 2018-11-239DW.2 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-12-12 | 2018-12-142DW.2 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-01-15 | 2019-01-153DW.2 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2019-02-20 | 2019-02-161DW.2 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-03-19 | 2019-03-172DW.2 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-04-17 | 2019-04-222DW.2 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2019-05-15 | 2019-05-248DW.2 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2019-06-12 | 2019-06-203DW.2 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-07-22 | 2019-07-379DW.2 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2019-07-22 | 1911114-01 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-08-26 | 2019-08-447DW.2 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-09-11 | 2019-09-229DW.2 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2019-10-21 | 2019-10-350DW.2 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2019-11-13 | 2019-11-166DW.2 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2019-12-10 | 2019-12-127DW.2 | 0.630 ppm |