Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Deforest Waterworks

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.

 

153

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.784 ppm24240.600 ppm - 1.10 ppm
20190.708 ppm24240.0700 ppm - 0.800 ppm
20200.598 ppm25250.1000 ppm - 0.800 ppm
20210.707 ppm28280.600 ppm - 0.800 ppm
20220.688 ppm24240.600 ppm - 0.752 ppm
20230.575 ppm28280.1000 ppm - 0.800 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
2018-01-023609580010.828 ppm
2018-01-023609580010.900 ppm
2018-02-053652740010.790 ppm
2018-02-053652740010.800 ppm
2018-03-053692060010.766 ppm
2018-03-053692060011.000 ppm
2018-04-033741710010.726 ppm
2018-04-033741710011.10 ppm
2018-05-013789920010.783 ppm
2018-05-013789920010.800 ppm
2018-06-063867170010.739 ppm
2018-06-063867170010.800 ppm
2018-07-163944070010.600 ppm
2018-07-163944070010.758 ppm
2018-08-073991670010.650 ppm
2018-08-073991670010.750 ppm
2018-09-184085230010.662 ppm
2018-09-184085230010.740 ppm
2018-10-014113550010.723 ppm
2018-10-014113550010.800 ppm
2018-11-054175670010.721 ppm
2018-11-054175670010.800 ppm
2018-12-034219010010.769 ppm
2018-12-034219010010.800 ppm
2019-01-074261920010.767 ppm
2019-01-074261920010.800 ppm
2019-02-044296650010.752 ppm
2019-02-044296650010.800 ppm
2019-03-044333630010.600 ppm
2019-03-044333630010.720 ppm
2019-04-014377780010.700 ppm
2019-04-014377780010.721 ppm
2019-05-084447940010.685 ppm
2019-05-084447940010.700 ppm
2019-06-034489680010.718 ppm
2019-06-034489680010.800 ppm
2019-07-024551940010.715 ppm
2019-07-024551940010.800 ppm
2019-08-054611370010.0700 ppm
2019-08-054611370010.725 ppm
2019-09-094681100010.724 ppm
2019-09-094681100010.800 ppm
2019-10-084750470010.686 ppm
2019-10-084750470010.700 ppm
2019-11-054796490010.708 ppm
2019-11-054796490010.750 ppm
2019-12-024836490010.740 ppm
2019-12-024836490010.800 ppm
2020-01-064877390010.700 ppm
2020-01-064877390010.745 ppm
2020-04-014991590010.729 ppm
2020-04-014991590010.800 ppm
2020-04-2211846220.1000 ppm
2020-04-2211846220.1000 ppm
2020-04-2211846260.1000 ppm
2020-04-2211846240.1000 ppm
2020-04-2211846250.120 ppm
2020-05-065035010010.600 ppm
2020-05-065035010010.787 ppm
2020-06-015069600010.700 ppm
2020-06-015069600010.718 ppm
2020-07-085135190010.694 ppm
2020-07-085135190010.800 ppm
2020-08-045180860010.668 ppm
2020-08-045180860010.700 ppm
2020-09-095242820010.688 ppm
2020-09-095242820010.800 ppm
2020-10-055290560010.678 ppm
2020-10-055290560010.700 ppm
2020-11-025339450010.681 ppm
2020-11-025339450010.800 ppm
2020-12-015378570010.708 ppm
2020-12-015378570010.730 ppm
2021-01-055422070010.747 ppm
2021-01-055422070010.800 ppm
2021-02-085466200010.797 ppm
2021-02-085466200010.800 ppm
2021-02-085466200010.797 ppm
2021-02-085466200010.800 ppm
2021-03-015491910010.753 ppm
2021-03-015491910010.800 ppm
2021-03-015491910010.753 ppm
2021-03-015491910010.800 ppm
2021-04-085552240010.650 ppm
2021-04-085552240010.704 ppm
2021-05-035592250010.600 ppm
2021-05-035592250010.713 ppm
2021-06-025646690010.700 ppm
2021-06-025646690010.705 ppm
2021-07-155725980010.670 ppm
2021-07-155725980010.700 ppm
2021-08-025754310010.681 ppm
2021-08-025754310010.700 ppm
2021-09-095825590010.600 ppm
2021-09-095825590010.625 ppm
2021-10-055877620010.600 ppm
2021-10-055877620010.639 ppm
2021-11-035928800010.656 ppm
2021-11-035928800010.700 ppm
2021-12-015964080010.605 ppm
2021-12-015964080010.700 ppm
2022-01-106011400010.700 ppm
2022-01-106011400010.752 ppm
2022-02-036044240010.697 ppm
2022-02-036044240010.700 ppm
2022-03-026077570010.700 ppm
2022-03-026077570010.751 ppm
2022-04-066127380010.700 ppm
2022-04-066127380010.741 ppm
2022-05-036170750010.700 ppm
2022-05-036170750010.703 ppm
2022-06-066230850010.661 ppm
2022-06-066230850010.700 ppm
2022-07-146307640010.700 ppm
2022-07-146307640010.713 ppm
2022-08-036347850010.689 ppm
2022-08-036347850010.700 ppm
2022-09-076409870010.600 ppm
2022-09-076409870010.628 ppm
2022-10-036460040010.666 ppm
2022-10-036460040010.700 ppm
2022-11-016509860010.650 ppm
2022-11-016509860010.691 ppm
2022-12-076562220010.600 ppm
2022-12-076562220010.678 ppm
2023-01-106600900010.700 ppm
2023-01-106600900010.758 ppm
2023-02-066631510010.674 ppm
2023-02-066631510010.700 ppm
2023-03-066667840010.700 ppm
2023-03-066667840010.754 ppm
2023-04-196739860010.500 ppm
2023-04-196739860010.546 ppm
2023-05-086771410010.596 ppm
2023-05-086771410010.600 ppm
2023-06-066820950010.500 ppm
2023-06-066820950010.620 ppm
2023-07-106875250010.680 ppm
2023-07-106875250010.700 ppm
2023-08-106942000010.608 ppm
2023-08-106942000010.700 ppm
2023-08-236966820010.1000 ppm
2023-08-236966790010.105 ppm
2023-08-236966800010.110 ppm
2023-08-236966840010.124 ppm
2023-09-076989520010.623 ppm
2023-09-076989520010.700 ppm
2023-10-037040680010.572 ppm
2023-10-037040680010.600 ppm
2023-11-087099780010.666 ppm
2023-11-087099780010.800 ppm
2023-12-207156810010.665 ppm
2023-12-207156810010.700 ppm