Fluoride
St Albans Water Department
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0.568 ppm | 53 | 53 | 0.400 ppm - 0.800 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.493 ppm | 52 | 52 | 0.270 ppm - 0.700 ppm |
| 2020 | 0.533 ppm | 28 | 28 | 0.400 ppm - 0.620 ppm |
| 2021 | 0.544 ppm | 51 | 51 | 0.400 ppm - 0.800 ppm |
| 2022 | 0.497 ppm | 53 | 53 | 0.260 ppm - 0.700 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.508 ppm | 51 | 51 | 0.400 ppm - 0.600 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-05 | 17-IC-05104-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-01-09 | 17-IC-05105-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-01-17 | 17-IC-05106-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-01-25 | 17-IC-05107-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-02-01 | 17-IC-05108-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-02-08 | 17-IC-05109-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-02-12 | 17-IC-05110-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-02-20 | 17-IC-05111-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-02-27 | 17-IC-05112-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-03-05 | 17-IC-05113-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-03-14 | 17-IC-05114-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-03-22 | 17-IC-05115-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-03-27 | 17-IC-05116-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-04-03 | 17-IC-05117-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-04-11 | 17-IC-05118-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-04-17 | 11-IC-01909-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-04-27 | 11-IC-01910-001 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2018-05-04 | 11-IC-02576-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-05-10 | 11-IC-02578-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-05-18 | 11-IC-02579-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-05-23 | 11-IC-02580-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-05-31 | 11-IC-02581-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-06-06 | 11-IC-02583-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-06-11 | 11-IC-02584-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-06-18 | 11-IC-02585-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-06-27 | 11-IC-02586-001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-07-06 | 11-IC-02587-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-07-10 | 11-IC-02588-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-07-17 | 11-IC-02589-001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-07-24 | 11-IC-02590-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2018-07-31 | 11-IC-02591-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-08-07 | 11-IC-02592-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-08-16 | 11-IC-02593-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-08-20 | 11-IC-02594-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-08-29 | 11-IC-02595-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-09-07 | 11-IC-02596-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-09-14 | 15-IC-03605-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-09-19 | 11-IC-02582-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-09-24 | 14-IC-02960-001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-10-04 | 11-IC-02597-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-10-11 | 11-IC-02598-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-10-16 | 11-IC-02599-001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-10-22 | 11-IC-02601-001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-10-31 | 11-IC-02602-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-11-06 | 12-IC-01431-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-11-15 | 12-IC-01432-001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2018-11-21 | 11-IC-02603-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-11-28 | 12-IC-01433-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-12-04 | 12-IC-01434-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-12-12 | 12-IC-01435-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-12-17 | 12-IC-01436-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-12-24 | 12-IC-01437-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-12-31 | 12-IC-01438-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-01-07 | 12-IC-01439-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-01-16 | 12-IC-01441-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-01-23 | 12-IC-01442-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-01-30 | 12-IC-01443-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-02-04 | 12-IC-01444-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-02-12 | 12-IC-01445-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-02-20 | 12-IC-01446-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-02-26 | 12-IC-01447-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-03-04 | 12-IC-01448-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-03-13 | 12-IC-01449-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-03-18 | 12-IC-01450-001 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2019-03-26 | 12-IC-01451-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-04-03 | 12-IC-01452-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-04-08 | 12-IC-01453-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-04-15 | 13-IC-04060-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-04-23 | 12-IC-01454-001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2019-05-01 | 12-IC-01455-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-05-07 | 12-IC-01456-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 12-IC-01457-001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2019-05-21 | 12-IC-01458-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-05-28 | 12-IC-02818-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-06-05 | 13-IC-00198-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-06-13 | 13-IC-04046-001 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2019-06-19 | 19-IC-03041-001 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2019-06-24 | 19-IC-03040-001 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2019-07-01 | 19-IC-03022-001 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2019-07-12 | 19-IC-03023-001 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2019-07-15 | 19-IC-03024-001 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2019-07-23 | 19-IC-03025-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-07-29 | 19-IC-03039-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-08-05 | 19-IC-03038-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-08-12 | 19-IC-03027-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-08-19 | 19-IC-03037-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-08-26 | 19-IC-03028-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2019-09-05 | 19-IC-03029-001 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2019-09-09 | 19-IC-03030-001 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2019-09-20 | 19-IC-03031-001 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2019-09-24 | 19-IC-03032-001A | 0.430 ppm |
| 2019-10-02 | 19-IC-03033-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-10-07 | 19-IC-03034-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-10-15 | 19-IC-03036-001 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2019-10-21 | 19-IC-03035-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-10-29 | 19-IC-15458-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-11-05 | 19-IC-15459-001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2019-11-13 | 19-IC-15460-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-11-18 | 19-IC-15461-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-11-25 | 19-IC-15462-001 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2019-12-04 | 19-IC-15477-001 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2019-12-09 | 19-IC-15476-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-12-16 | 19-IC-15463-001 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2019-12-23 | 19-IC-15464-001 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-12-31 | 19-IC-15465-001 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2020-01-07 | 19-IC-15475-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2020-01-15 | 19-IC-15474-001 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2020-01-21 | 19-IC-15466-001 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2020-01-27 | 19-IC-15467-001 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2020-02-03 | 19-IC-15468-001 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2020-02-10 | 19-IC-15469-001 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2020-02-19 | 19-IC-15470-001 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2020-02-24 | 19-IC-15471-001 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2020-03-03 | 19-IC-15472-001 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2020-03-11 | 19-IC-15473-001 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2020-03-16 | 20-IC-03815-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2020-04-21 | 2004-08965-001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2020-05-29 | 2005-12251-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2020-06-03 | 2006-13229-001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2020-07-07 | 2007-17416-001 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2020-08-07 | 2008-20897-001 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2020-09-04 | 2009-25637-001 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2020-10-06 | 2010-29382-001 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2020-10-19 | 20-IC-03823-001 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2020-10-29 | 20-IC-03824-001 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2020-11-13 | 20-IC-03826-001 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2020-11-20 | 20-IC-03827-001 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2020-11-24 | 20-IC-03828-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2020-11-30 | 20-IC-03829-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2020-12-07 | 20-IC-03830-001 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2020-12-15 | 20-IC-03831-001 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2020-12-25 | 20-IC-03832-001 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2020-12-28 | 20-IC-03833-001 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2021-01-05 | 20-IC-03834-001 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2021-01-13 | 20-IC-11093-001 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2021-01-20 | 20-IC-11094-001 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2021-01-26 | 20-IC-11095-001 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2021-02-01 | 20-IC-11096-001 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2021-02-08 | 20-IC-11097-001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2021-02-16 | 20-IC-11098-001 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2021-02-22 | 20-IC-11099-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2021-03-01 | 20-IC-11100-001 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2021-03-09 | 20-IC-11101-001 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2021-03-15 | 20-IC-11102-001 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2021-03-23 | 20-IC-11103-001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2021-03-29 | 20-IC-11104-001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2021-04-09 | 20-IC-11106-001 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2021-04-12 | 20-IC-11105-001 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2021-04-20 | 20-IC-11107-001 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2021-04-26 | 20-IC-11108-001 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2021-05-03 | 20-IC-11109-001 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2021-05-11 | 20-IC-11110-001 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2021-05-17 | 20-IC-11111-001 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2021-05-24 | 20-IC-11112-001 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2021-06-01 | 21-IC-00757-001 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2021-06-07 | 21-IC-00758-001 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2021-06-14 | 21-IC-00759-001 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2021-06-21 | 21-IC-00760-001 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2021-06-30 | 21-IC-00761-001 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2021-07-06 | 21-IC-00762-001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2021-07-12 | 21-IC-00763-001 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2021-07-20 | 21-IC-00764-001 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2021-07-26 | 21-IC-00765-001 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2021-08-02 | 21-IC-00766-001A | 0.520 ppm |
| 2021-08-09 | 21-IC-00767-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2021-08-19 | 21-IC-00768-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2021-08-23 | 21-IC-00769-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2021-08-30 | 21-IC-00770-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2021-09-07 | 21-IC-00771-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-09-13 | 21-IC-00772-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-09-20 | 21-IC-00773-001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2021-09-27 | 21-IC-00774-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-10-04 | 21-IC-00775-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-10-12 | 21-IC-00776-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-10-19 | 21-IC-04976-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2021-10-25 | 21-IC-04977-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-11-03 | 21-IC-04978-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-11-08 | 21-IC-04979-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-11-15 | 21-IC-04980-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-11-22 | 21-IC-04981-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2021-12-02 | 21-IC-04982-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-12-07 | 21-IC-04983-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2021-12-14 | 21-IC-04984-001 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2021-12-27 | 21-IC-04985-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2022-01-05 | 21-IC-04986-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2022-01-11 | 21-IC-04987-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2022-01-21 | 21-IC-04988-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2022-01-25 | 21-IC-04989-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-02-03 | 21-IC-04990-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2022-02-09 | 21-IC-04991-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2022-02-15 | 21-IC-04992-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-02-23 | 21-IC-04993-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2022-03-03 | 21-IC-04994-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2022-03-09 | 21-IC-04995-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-03-16 | 22-IC-01328-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-03-21 | 22-IC-01329-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2022-03-30 | 22-IC-01330-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-04-08 | 22-IC-01331-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-04-14 | 22-IC-01332-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-04-20 | 22-IC-01333-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-04-29 | 22-IC-01334-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-05-02 | 22-IC-01335-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-05-13 | 22-IC-01336-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-05-18 | 22-IC-01337-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2022-05-27 | 22-IC-01338-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-06-10 | 22-IC-01339-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-06-17 | 22-IC-01340-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2022-06-23 | 22-IC-01341-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-06-30 | 22-IC-01342-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-07-04 | 22-IC-01343-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2022-07-11 | 11-IC-02577-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-07-18 | 22-IC-01345-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-07-25 | 22-IC-01346-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-08-02 | 22-IC-01347-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-08-03 | 2208-21509-001 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2022-08-03 | 2208-21511-001 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2022-08-12 | 22-IC-05778-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-08-15 | 22-IC-05779-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-08-22 | 22-IC-05780-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-08-30 | 22-IC-05781-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2022-09-09 | 22-IC-05782-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-09-16 | 22-IC-05783-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2022-09-19 | 22-IC-05784-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-09-26 | 22-IC-05785-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-10-05 | 22-IC-05786-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-10-10 | 22-IC-05787-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-10-21 | 22-IC-05788-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2022-10-27 | 22-IC-05789-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-10-31 | 22-IC-05790-001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2022-11-08 | 22-IC-05791-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2022-11-14 | 22-IC-05792-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-11-23 | 22-IC-05793-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2022-11-29 | 22-IC-05794-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2022-12-05 | 22-IC-05795-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-12-12 | 22-IC-05796-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2022-12-19 | 22-IC-05797-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2022-12-30 | 22-IC-10309-001A | 0.260 ppm |
| 2023-01-04 | 22-IC-10310-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2023-01-09 | 22-IC-10311-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-01-20 | 22-IC-10312-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-01-27 | 22-IC-10313-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-01-31 | 22-IC-10314-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-02-06 | 22-IC-10315-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2023-02-17 | 22-IC-10316-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-02-20 | 22-IC-10317-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2023-02-27 | 22-IC-10318-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2023-03-08 | 22-IC-10319-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-03-13 | 22-IC-10320-001A | 0.600 ppm |
| 2023-03-23 | 22-IC-10321-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-03-29 | 22-IC-10322-001 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2023-04-03 | 22-IC-10323-001 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2023-04-10 | 22-IC-10324-001 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2023-04-17 | 22-IC-10325-001 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2023-04-24 | 22-IC-10326-001 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2023-05-01 | 22-IC-10327-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-05-08 | 22-IC-10328-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2023-05-15 | 22-IC-09624-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2023-05-22 | 22-IC-09625-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-06-01 | 22-IC-09626-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2023-06-09 | 22-IC-09627-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-06-13 | 22-IC-09628-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-06-21 | 22-IC-09629-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-06-26 | 22-IC-09630-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-07-07 | 22-IC-09631-001 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2023-07-10 | 22-IC-09632-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-07-17 | 22-IC-09633-001A | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-07-25 | 22-IC-09634-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2023-07-31 | 22-IC-09636-001A | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-08-07 | 22-IC-09635-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-08-15 | 22-IC-09637-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-08-25 | 22-IC-09638-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2023-08-28 | 22-IC-09639-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-09-09 | 22-IC-09640-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-09-22 | 22-IC-09641-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-09-26 | 22-IC-09642-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2023-10-06 | 22-IC-09643-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-10-13 | 23-IC-11654-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-10-18 | 23-IC-11655-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-10-26 | 23-IC-11656-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-10-31 | 23-IC-11657-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2023-11-09 | 23-IC-11658-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-11-17 | 23-IC-11659-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-11-22 | 23-IC-11660-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-11-28 | 23-IC-11661-001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2023-12-08 | 23-IC-11662-001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2023-12-12 | 23-IC-11663-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2023-12-18 | 23-IC-11664-001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2023-12-27 | 23-IC-11665-001 | 0.600 ppm |