Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Chehalis 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.

 

57

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND100ND
2019ND110ND
2020N/A00N/A
20210.0946 ppm132ND - 0.620 ppm
2022ND110ND
2023ND120ND

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
2018-01-18ND
2018-02-15ND
2018-03-14ND
2018-04-18ND
2018-05-10ND
2018-06-14ND
2018-08-13ND
2018-09-19ND
2018-11-08ND
2018-12-06ND
2019-01-10ND
2019-02-07ND
2019-04-18ND
2019-05-22ND
2019-06-18ND
2019-07-16ND
2019-08-13ND
2019-09-12ND
2019-10-16ND
2019-11-12ND
2019-12-05ND
2021-01-074061254ND
2021-02-174080637ND
2021-03-114087864ND
2021-04-204109207ND
2021-05-104114164ND
2021-06-164129469ND
2021-07-154142952ND
2021-08-1041770200.620 ppm
2021-08-104177021ND
2021-09-0341672660.610 ppm
2021-10-084190621ND
2021-11-164207313ND
2021-12-064213324ND
2022-01-104236923ND
2022-02-044239161ND
2022-03-144258569ND
2022-04-064266349ND
2022-05-024274552ND
2022-06-024292482ND
2022-07-204318754ND
2022-08-174356051ND
2022-09-024356045ND
2022-10-104361217ND
2022-12-124388068ND
2023-01-054397517ND
2023-02-064407190ND
2023-03-084424262ND
2023-04-104439647ND
2023-05-084449329ND
2023-06-054464553ND
2023-07-144486137ND
2023-08-044490754ND
2023-09-054515089ND
2023-10-064529307ND
2023-11-034541757ND
2023-12-084555876ND