Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

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.

 

114

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.483 ppm330.1000 ppm - 0.790 ppm
20190.1000 ppm84ND - 0.340 ppm
2020N/A00N/A
2021N/A00N/A
20220.747 ppm27270.608 ppm - 1.24 ppm
20230.608 ppm7674ND - 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
2018-05-300.1000 ppm
2018-08-020.790 ppm
2018-08-220.560 ppm
2019-06-12ND
2019-06-120.170 ppm
2019-06-120.170 ppm
2019-06-12ND
2019-06-120.120 ppm
2019-06-12ND
2019-06-170.340 ppm
2019-06-25ND
2022-08-0843258480.700 ppm
2022-09-0643381260.686 ppm
2022-09-0643381290.731 ppm
2022-09-0643381240.706 ppm
2022-09-0643381270.795 ppm
2022-09-0643381280.788 ppm
2022-09-0643381220.674 ppm
2022-09-0643381230.729 ppm
2022-09-0643381250.740 ppm
2022-09-0643381300.683 ppm
2022-10-0343477980.612 ppm
2022-10-0343478020.686 ppm
2022-10-0343478010.618 ppm
2022-10-0343478000.621 ppm
2022-10-0443477990.721 ppm
2022-10-0443478070.727 ppm
2022-10-0543478080.726 ppm
2022-11-0243731300.735 ppm
2022-11-0243731320.636 ppm
2022-11-0243731310.628 ppm
2022-11-0243731270.608 ppm
2022-11-0343731280.628 ppm
2022-11-0343731290.720 ppm
2022-12-0243910001.01 ppm
2022-12-0243910011.24 ppm
2022-12-0243910031.01 ppm
2022-12-0243910021.02 ppm
2023-01-0443994200.624 ppm
2023-01-0543994190.524 ppm
2023-01-0943994210.639 ppm
2023-01-0943994230.584 ppm
2023-01-1043994220.672 ppm
2023-02-0144119490.615 ppm
2023-02-0144119500.640 ppm
2023-02-0144119520.683 ppm
2023-02-0144119510.628 ppm
2023-02-0144119530.554 ppm
2023-03-0244246140.564 ppm
2023-03-0244246180.598 ppm
2023-03-0344246150.669 ppm
2023-03-034424617ND
2023-03-0644246190.655 ppm
2023-03-064424616ND
2023-03-1344246400.609 ppm
2023-03-1344246410.698 ppm
2023-04-0344369620.642 ppm
2023-04-0344369630.631 ppm
2023-04-0344369640.554 ppm
2023-04-0444369690.615 ppm
2023-04-0444369700.652 ppm
2023-04-0544369710.570 ppm
2023-05-0144484830.633 ppm
2023-05-0144484840.680 ppm
2023-05-0144484860.664 ppm
2023-05-0144484880.548 ppm
2023-05-0144484850.592 ppm
2023-05-0144484870.555 ppm
2023-05-0944485420.671 ppm
2023-05-1644557440.666 ppm
2023-06-0644615630.604 ppm
2023-06-0644615680.548 ppm
2023-06-0644615650.571 ppm
2023-06-0644615660.534 ppm
2023-06-0644615640.547 ppm
2023-06-0644615670.520 ppm
2023-06-0644615620.663 ppm
2023-06-0644615690.562 ppm
2023-07-0344802630.543 ppm
2023-07-0344802690.628 ppm
2023-07-0344802670.597 ppm
2023-07-0344802680.583 ppm
2023-07-0344802650.636 ppm
2023-07-0344802660.589 ppm
2023-07-0344802640.692 ppm
2023-07-0544803250.679 ppm
2023-07-0644803260.598 ppm
2023-08-0144864640.632 ppm
2023-08-0144864660.676 ppm
2023-08-0144864690.680 ppm
2023-08-0144864670.658 ppm
2023-08-0144864680.615 ppm
2023-08-0144864630.708 ppm
2023-08-0144864620.671 ppm
2023-08-0244864650.683 ppm
2023-08-0244864610.728 ppm
2023-09-0145077000.682 ppm
2023-09-0145076970.664 ppm
2023-09-0145076980.648 ppm
2023-09-0145076990.615 ppm
2023-09-0145077010.582 ppm
2023-10-0245246680.571 ppm
2023-10-0245246670.623 ppm
2023-10-0245246690.692 ppm
2023-10-0245246700.733 ppm
2023-10-0245246710.594 ppm
2023-10-0245246720.512 ppm
2023-10-0245246660.549 ppm
2023-10-0245246650.640 ppm
2023-11-0145385420.667 ppm
2023-11-0145385460.648 ppm
2023-11-0245385450.683 ppm
2023-11-0245385430.686 ppm
2023-11-0245385440.677 ppm