Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Capital Region Water

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.650 ppm110.650 ppm
20190.530 ppm220.380 ppm - 0.680 ppm
20200.590 ppm330.460 ppm - 0.680 ppm
20210.530 ppm220.520 ppm - 0.540 ppm
20220.255 ppm21ND - 0.510 ppm
20230.690 ppm220.590 ppm - 0.790 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
2018-01-1722892010030.650 ppm
2019-01-158121177-010.380 ppm
2019-11-159094796-01RE0.680 ppm
2020-01-1421622464.000.460 ppm
2020-11-1823488879.000.680 ppm
2020-12-1523664960.000.630 ppm
2021-07-1424970889.000.540 ppm
2021-11-1625717617.000.520 ppm
2022-07-1327182875.00ND
2022-11-0327952114.000.510 ppm
2023-04-1828849662.000.790 ppm
2023-10-3130023362.000.590 ppm