Fluoride
Ellensburg 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 | 0.483 ppm | 3 | 3 | 0.1000 ppm - 0.790 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.1000 ppm | 8 | 4 | ND - 0.340 ppm |
| 2020 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2021 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2022 | 0.747 ppm | 27 | 27 | 0.608 ppm - 1.24 ppm |
| 2023 | 0.608 ppm | 76 | 74 | ND - 0.733 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-05-30 | 0.1000 ppm | |
| 2018-08-02 | 0.790 ppm | |
| 2018-08-22 | 0.560 ppm | |
| 2019-06-12 | ND | |
| 2019-06-12 | 0.170 ppm | |
| 2019-06-12 | 0.170 ppm | |
| 2019-06-12 | ND | |
| 2019-06-12 | 0.120 ppm | |
| 2019-06-12 | ND | |
| 2019-06-17 | 0.340 ppm | |
| 2019-06-25 | ND | |
| 2022-08-08 | 4325848 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | 4338126 | 0.686 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | 4338129 | 0.731 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | 4338124 | 0.706 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | 4338127 | 0.795 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | 4338128 | 0.788 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | 4338122 | 0.674 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | 4338123 | 0.729 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | 4338125 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2022-09-06 | 4338130 | 0.683 ppm |
| 2022-10-03 | 4347798 | 0.612 ppm |
| 2022-10-03 | 4347802 | 0.686 ppm |
| 2022-10-03 | 4347801 | 0.618 ppm |
| 2022-10-03 | 4347800 | 0.621 ppm |
| 2022-10-04 | 4347799 | 0.721 ppm |
| 2022-10-04 | 4347807 | 0.727 ppm |
| 2022-10-05 | 4347808 | 0.726 ppm |
| 2022-11-02 | 4373130 | 0.735 ppm |
| 2022-11-02 | 4373132 | 0.636 ppm |
| 2022-11-02 | 4373131 | 0.628 ppm |
| 2022-11-02 | 4373127 | 0.608 ppm |
| 2022-11-03 | 4373128 | 0.628 ppm |
| 2022-11-03 | 4373129 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | 4391000 | 1.01 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | 4391001 | 1.24 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | 4391003 | 1.01 ppm |
| 2022-12-02 | 4391002 | 1.02 ppm |
| 2023-01-04 | 4399420 | 0.624 ppm |
| 2023-01-05 | 4399419 | 0.524 ppm |
| 2023-01-09 | 4399421 | 0.639 ppm |
| 2023-01-09 | 4399423 | 0.584 ppm |
| 2023-01-10 | 4399422 | 0.672 ppm |
| 2023-02-01 | 4411949 | 0.615 ppm |
| 2023-02-01 | 4411950 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2023-02-01 | 4411952 | 0.683 ppm |
| 2023-02-01 | 4411951 | 0.628 ppm |
| 2023-02-01 | 4411953 | 0.554 ppm |
| 2023-03-02 | 4424614 | 0.564 ppm |
| 2023-03-02 | 4424618 | 0.598 ppm |
| 2023-03-03 | 4424615 | 0.669 ppm |
| 2023-03-03 | 4424617 | ND |
| 2023-03-06 | 4424619 | 0.655 ppm |
| 2023-03-06 | 4424616 | ND |
| 2023-03-13 | 4424640 | 0.609 ppm |
| 2023-03-13 | 4424641 | 0.698 ppm |
| 2023-04-03 | 4436962 | 0.642 ppm |
| 2023-04-03 | 4436963 | 0.631 ppm |
| 2023-04-03 | 4436964 | 0.554 ppm |
| 2023-04-04 | 4436969 | 0.615 ppm |
| 2023-04-04 | 4436970 | 0.652 ppm |
| 2023-04-05 | 4436971 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2023-05-01 | 4448483 | 0.633 ppm |
| 2023-05-01 | 4448484 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2023-05-01 | 4448486 | 0.664 ppm |
| 2023-05-01 | 4448488 | 0.548 ppm |
| 2023-05-01 | 4448485 | 0.592 ppm |
| 2023-05-01 | 4448487 | 0.555 ppm |
| 2023-05-09 | 4448542 | 0.671 ppm |
| 2023-05-16 | 4455744 | 0.666 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | 4461563 | 0.604 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | 4461568 | 0.548 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | 4461565 | 0.571 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | 4461566 | 0.534 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | 4461564 | 0.547 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | 4461567 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | 4461562 | 0.663 ppm |
| 2023-06-06 | 4461569 | 0.562 ppm |
| 2023-07-03 | 4480263 | 0.543 ppm |
| 2023-07-03 | 4480269 | 0.628 ppm |
| 2023-07-03 | 4480267 | 0.597 ppm |
| 2023-07-03 | 4480268 | 0.583 ppm |
| 2023-07-03 | 4480265 | 0.636 ppm |
| 2023-07-03 | 4480266 | 0.589 ppm |
| 2023-07-03 | 4480264 | 0.692 ppm |
| 2023-07-05 | 4480325 | 0.679 ppm |
| 2023-07-06 | 4480326 | 0.598 ppm |
| 2023-08-01 | 4486464 | 0.632 ppm |
| 2023-08-01 | 4486466 | 0.676 ppm |
| 2023-08-01 | 4486469 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2023-08-01 | 4486467 | 0.658 ppm |
| 2023-08-01 | 4486468 | 0.615 ppm |
| 2023-08-01 | 4486463 | 0.708 ppm |
| 2023-08-01 | 4486462 | 0.671 ppm |
| 2023-08-02 | 4486465 | 0.683 ppm |
| 2023-08-02 | 4486461 | 0.728 ppm |
| 2023-09-01 | 4507700 | 0.682 ppm |
| 2023-09-01 | 4507697 | 0.664 ppm |
| 2023-09-01 | 4507698 | 0.648 ppm |
| 2023-09-01 | 4507699 | 0.615 ppm |
| 2023-09-01 | 4507701 | 0.582 ppm |
| 2023-10-02 | 4524668 | 0.571 ppm |
| 2023-10-02 | 4524667 | 0.623 ppm |
| 2023-10-02 | 4524669 | 0.692 ppm |
| 2023-10-02 | 4524670 | 0.733 ppm |
| 2023-10-02 | 4524671 | 0.594 ppm |
| 2023-10-02 | 4524672 | 0.512 ppm |
| 2023-10-02 | 4524666 | 0.549 ppm |
| 2023-10-02 | 4524665 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2023-11-01 | 4538542 | 0.667 ppm |
| 2023-11-01 | 4538546 | 0.648 ppm |
| 2023-11-02 | 4538545 | 0.683 ppm |
| 2023-11-02 | 4538543 | 0.686 ppm |
| 2023-11-02 | 4538544 | 0.677 ppm |