Fluoride
Sanford Water District
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2014 | 0.642 ppm | 28 | 28 | 0.460 ppm - 0.850 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.666 ppm | 29 | 28 | ND - 0.850 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.715 ppm | 32 | 32 | 0.510 ppm - 0.870 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.791 ppm | 33 | 33 | 0.630 ppm - 1.05 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.696 ppm | 17 | 17 | 0.500 ppm - 0.850 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.745 ppm | 27 | 27 | 0.500 ppm - 0.950 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-07 | 0.790 ppm | |
| 2014-02-04 | 0.730 ppm | |
| 2014-03-04 | 0.700 ppm | |
| 2014-03-12 | 0.630 ppm | |
| 2014-03-12 | 0.660 ppm | |
| 2014-03-12 | 0.600 ppm | |
| 2014-04-15 | 0.620 ppm | |
| 2014-05-13 | 0.530 ppm | |
| 2014-06-02 | 0.590 ppm | |
| 2014-06-02 | 0.580 ppm | |
| 2014-06-03 | 0.700 ppm | |
| 2014-06-03 | 0.570 ppm | |
| 2014-06-03 | 0.570 ppm | |
| 2014-06-04 | 0.590 ppm | |
| 2014-06-04 | 0.590 ppm | |
| 2014-06-04 | 0.460 ppm | |
| 2014-06-04 | 0.460 ppm | |
| 2014-06-05 | 0.740 ppm | |
| 2014-06-05 | 0.530 ppm | |
| 2014-06-17 | 0.670 ppm | |
| 2014-07-08 | 0.680 ppm | |
| 2014-08-11 | 0.750 ppm | |
| 2014-08-12 | 0.650 ppm | |
| 2014-08-19 | 0.650 ppm | |
| 2014-09-02 | 0.630 ppm | |
| 2014-10-14 | 0.800 ppm | |
| 2014-11-12 | 0.850 ppm | |
| 2014-12-09 | 0.660 ppm | |
| 2015-01-06 | 215010057 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2015-02-03 | 215020031 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2015-03-03 | 215030050 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2015-03-11 | 215030270.01 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2015-03-11 | 215030267.01 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2015-03-11 | 215030265 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2015-04-07 | 215040156 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2015-04-29 | 215050773.02 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2015-04-29 | 215040773.03 | ND |
| 2015-04-29 | 215040773.01 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2015-05-05 | 215050126 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2015-06-02 | 215060073 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2015-07-07 | 215070188 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2015-07-15 | 215070453 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2015-07-15 | 215070451 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2015-08-04 | 215080081 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2015-08-24 | 215080763 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2015-08-24 | 215080760 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2015-08-26 | 215080835.03 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2015-08-26 | 215080835.02 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2015-08-26 | 215080835.01 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2015-09-01 | 215090053 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2015-10-06 | 215100130 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2015-11-03 | 215110075 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2015-11-18 | 215110433 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2015-11-18 | 215110431 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2015-11-18 | 215110429 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2015-11-18 | 215110427 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2015-12-01 | 215120029 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2016-01-05 | 216010062 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2016-02-09 | 216020208 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2016-03-01 | 216030033 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2016-03-29 | 216030773 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2016-03-29 | 216030771 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2016-03-30 | 216030802 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2016-03-30 | 216030800 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2016-04-05 | 216040099 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2016-05-03 | 216050087 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2016-05-25 | 216051005 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2016-06-07 | 216060282 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2016-06-15 | 216060627 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2016-06-15 | 216060625 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2016-06-15 | 216060623 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2016-06-20 | 216060819 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2016-06-20 | 216060816 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2016-07-05 | 216070101 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2016-08-09 | 216080361 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2016-08-24 | 216080961 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2016-08-29 | 216081191.02 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2016-08-29 | 216081191.01 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2016-08-30 | 216081238.02 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2016-08-30 | 216081238.01 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2016-09-13 | 216090375 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2016-10-11 | 216100322 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2016-11-08 | 216110238 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2016-11-09 | 216110293 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2016-11-09 | 216110291 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2016-11-16 | 216110519 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2016-11-16 | 216110517 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2016-12-06 | 216120179 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2016-12-15 | 216120417 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2017-01-03 | 217010022.01 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2017-02-07 | 217020197.01 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2017-03-07 | 217030217 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2017-03-21 | 217030572.01 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2017-03-21 | 217030570.01 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2017-03-22 | 217030621.01 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-03-22 | 217030619.01 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2017-03-28 | 217030764.01 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2017-04-04 | 217040095 | 0.890 ppm |
| 2017-05-02 | 217050132 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2017-05-30 | 217051145.01 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2017-05-30 | 217051142.01 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2017-05-30 | 217051124.01 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2017-05-30 | 217051121 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2017-05-31 | 217051228.01 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-05-31 | 217051225.01 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2017-05-31 | 217051222 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2017-06-06 | 217060233.01 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2017-06-14 | 217060611.01 | 1.05 ppm |
| 2017-06-14 | 217060608.01 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | 217070284.01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2017-08-08 | 217080366 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2017-08-23 | 217081091.01 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2017-08-29 | 217081326 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2017-08-29 | 217081322.01 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2017-08-29 | 217081318 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2017-08-30 | 217081407 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2017-08-30 | 217081403.01 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2017-08-30 | 217081399 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2017-09-12 | 217090381 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2017-10-03 | 217100075.01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2017-11-07 | 217110234 | 0.840 ppm |
| 2017-12-12 | 217120373.01 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2018-01-09 | 218010133.01 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2018-02-06 | 218020141.01 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2018-03-06 | 218030154.01 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2018-04-03 | 218040059 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2018-05-01 | 218050036 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 218060477.01 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 218060560.01 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 218060561.01 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2018-06-20 | 218060834.01 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2018-06-20 | 218060836.01 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2018-06-20 | 218060838.01 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | 218070359.01 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-08-28 | 218081198.01 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2018-09-11 | 218090301.01 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2018-10-02 | 218100088.01 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2018-11-13 | 218110343.01 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2018-12-04 | 218120063.01 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2019-01-15 | 219010440.01 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2019-02-05 | 219020126.01 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-03-05 | 219030074.01 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2019-04-02 | 219040064.01 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | 219050318.01 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 219050981.01 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 219050989.01 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 219050985.01 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 219050987.01 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 219050983.01 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2019-06-04 | 219060106.01 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-07-09 | 219070223.01 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-08-13 | 219080525.01 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2019-08-14 | 219080603.01 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2019-08-14 | 219080599.01 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2019-08-14 | 219080601.01 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2019-08-22 | 219080954.01 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2019-08-26 | 219081045.01 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-09-03 | 219090071.01 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2019-10-08 | 219100401.01 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-11-05 | 219110175.01 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2019-12-10 | 219120315.01 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2019-12-17 | 219120553.01 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2019-12-17 | 219120551.01 | 0.920 ppm |
| 2019-12-18 | 219120615.01 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2019-12-18 | 219120613.01 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2019-12-18 | 219120611.01 | 0.860 ppm |