Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Southwood Water System

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.

 

33

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.0383 ppm61ND - 0.230 ppm
2019ND60ND
2020N/A00N/A
2021ND140ND
20220.0714 ppm72ND - 0.260 ppm
2023N/A00N/A

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
2018-01-23ND
2018-02-02ND
2018-04-05ND
2018-05-04ND
2018-05-090.230 ppm
2018-07-19ND
2019-01-28ND
2019-01-28ND
2019-01-28ND
2019-01-28ND
2019-01-28ND
2019-02-08ND
2021-03-174096998ND
2021-03-174093774ND
2021-03-184465076ND
2021-03-184465041ND
2021-03-184464988ND
2021-03-234098028ND
2021-03-234096992ND
2021-03-254093773ND
2021-03-254093768ND
2021-03-254093772ND
2021-03-254093769ND
2021-03-254093771ND
2021-03-254093770ND
2021-04-144465081ND
2022-01-274237320ND
2022-02-044243097ND
2022-02-104243081ND
2022-11-0343752360.240 ppm
2022-11-0343752370.260 ppm
2022-11-284390385ND
2022-12-154392829ND