Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Purcellville, Town of

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.

 

55

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.630 ppm220.540 ppm - 0.720 ppm
20190.197 ppm31ND - 0.590 ppm
20200.680 ppm1615ND - 0.960 ppm
20210.733 ppm15150.630 ppm - 0.970 ppm
20220.735 ppm13130.560 ppm - 0.870 ppm
20230.510 ppm65ND - 0.900 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
2018-02-27E1801003400.720 ppm
2018-05-23E1803038570.540 ppm
2019-03-21E190302938ND
2019-03-21E190302949ND
2019-05-29E1903048510.590 ppm
2020-01-14E1912036530.650 ppm
2020-02-19E1912036520.640 ppm
2020-02-25E1912036610.820 ppm
2020-03-11E1912036510.600 ppm
2020-04-07E2003023070.750 ppm
2020-05-20E200302300ND
2020-05-20E2003023090.710 ppm
2020-05-20E2003023140.960 ppm
2020-06-16E2003023080.590 ppm
2020-06-16E2003022940.660 ppm
2020-07-13E2006012780.800 ppm
2020-08-17E2006012790.700 ppm
2020-09-24E2006012800.620 ppm
2020-10-15E2009062150.810 ppm
2020-11-09E2009062160.750 ppm
2020-12-14E2009062170.820 ppm
2021-01-19E2101001140.810 ppm
2021-02-17E2101001150.660 ppm
2021-03-15E2101001160.660 ppm
2021-03-15E2101001190.700 ppm
2021-04-13E2104006470.720 ppm
2021-05-12E2104006460.700 ppm
2021-05-17E2104006450.970 ppm
2021-06-16E2104006480.630 ppm
2021-07-13E2106014900.760 ppm
2021-08-18E2106014890.660 ppm
2021-09-15E2106014880.630 ppm
2021-10-19E2109019650.760 ppm
2021-11-15E2109019640.770 ppm
2021-11-30E2111000530.760 ppm
2021-12-07E2109019630.800 ppm
2022-01-19E2112016490.760 ppm
2022-02-15E2112016480.730 ppm
2022-03-16E2112016500.560 ppm
2022-04-14E2203036830.790 ppm
2022-05-16E2203036810.610 ppm
2022-05-23E2203036840.870 ppm
2022-06-08E2203036820.790 ppm
2022-07-19E2206075000.720 ppm
2022-08-17E2206074990.840 ppm
2022-09-21E2206074980.650 ppm
2022-10-12E2209043790.730 ppm
2022-11-07E2209043800.730 ppm
2022-12-07E2209043810.770 ppm
2023-05-01E2303054110.230 ppm
2023-05-31E2303053920.800 ppm
2023-06-12E2303054010.900 ppm
2023-06-12E230305406ND
2023-06-12E2303054160.600 ppm
2023-11-01E2309047100.530 ppm