Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Desoto PWS

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.

 

26

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND
20200.0940 ppm54ND - 0.130 ppm
20210.0275 ppm41ND - 0.110 ppm
2022ND40ND
20230.0560 ppm52ND - 0.170 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
2018-01-29AD11506ND
2018-04-24AD18230ND
2018-07-18AD29472ND
2018-10-17AD34621ND
2019-01-08AD37930ND
2019-04-17AD46361ND
2019-07-24AD52138ND
2019-10-22AD56916ND
2020-01-29AD60675ND
2020-04-1620046120.1000 ppm
2020-07-2720122280.120 ppm
2020-10-2620133540.120 ppm
2020-10-2620171070.130 ppm
2021-01-252020535ND
2021-04-192104193ND
2021-07-1921142860.110 ppm
2021-10-262118718ND
2022-01-242122232ND
2022-04-132204846ND
2022-07-112215450ND
2022-10-162220249ND
2023-01-2322237010.170 ppm
2023-04-2423038930.110 ppm
2023-07-172312294ND
2023-08-142313803ND
2023-10-232317338ND