Fluoride
Windsor Water Utility North
Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems. Read More.
Fluoride has been promoted as a chemical that reduces dental cavities. Yet it is now well-established that fluoride primarily exerts its protective effects through topical mechanisms, such as sodium fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash. In contrast, long-term ingestion of fluoride in water increases dental fluorosis, which includes mottling, pitting and weakening of the teeth. 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 fractures, although these effects may occur at lower doses.
Even fluoride levels of 0.7 ppm, the amount of fluoride in drinking water recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service, can result in too much fluoride for bottle-fed babies. EWG recommends that caregivers mix baby formula with fluoride-free water. The National Toxicology Program is investigating the potential for low doses of fluoride to alter thyroid function and childhood brain development.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 0.712 ppm | 27 | 27 | 0.108 ppm - 1.09 ppm |
2015 | 0.719 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.600 ppm - 0.809 ppm |
2016 | 0.689 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.648 ppm - 0.726 ppm |
2017 | 0.130 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.120 ppm - 0.140 ppm |
2018 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2019 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
ppm = parts per million
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 4 ppm
ppm = parts per million
All test results
Date | Lab ID | Result |
---|---|---|
2014-01-09 | 115512001 | 0.900 ppm |
2014-01-09 | 115512001 | 0.696 ppm |
2014-02-03 | 117994001 | 0.800 ppm |
2014-02-03 | 117994001 | 0.722 ppm |
2014-03-03 | 121493001 | 0.645 ppm |
2014-03-03 | 121493001 | 0.800 ppm |
2014-03-19 | 124061001 | 0.108 ppm |
2014-04-01 | 125380001 | 0.637 ppm |
2014-04-01 | 125380001 | 0.700 ppm |
2014-05-01 | 129997001 | 0.800 ppm |
2014-05-01 | 129997001 | 0.645 ppm |
2014-06-02 | 136075001 | 0.700 ppm |
2014-06-02 | 136075001 | 0.705 ppm |
2014-07-09 | 144111001 | 0.633 ppm |
2014-07-09 | 144111001 | 0.700 ppm |
2014-08-05 | 149369001 | 0.695 ppm |
2014-08-05 | 149369001 | 0.700 ppm |
2014-09-04 | 154967001 | 0.643 ppm |
2014-09-04 | 154967001 | 0.700 ppm |
2014-09-10 | 156241001 | 1.05 ppm |
2014-10-01 | 160948001 | 0.700 ppm |
2014-10-01 | 160948001 | 0.695 ppm |
2014-11-04 | 166771001 | 0.700 ppm |
2014-11-04 | 166771001 | 0.655 ppm |
2014-11-10 | 167637001 | 1.09 ppm |
2014-12-02 | 170470001 | 0.700 ppm |
2014-12-02 | 170470001 | 0.707 ppm |
2015-01-14 | 175640001 | 0.725 ppm |
2015-01-14 | 175640001 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-02-04 | 178337001 | 0.650 ppm |
2015-02-04 | 178337001 | 0.717 ppm |
2015-03-02 | 181208001 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-03-02 | 181208001 | 0.718 ppm |
2015-04-06 | 185988001 | 0.655 ppm |
2015-04-06 | 185988001 | 0.800 ppm |
2015-05-05 | 191273001 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-05-05 | 191273001 | 0.675 ppm |
2015-06-01 | 196436001 | 0.719 ppm |
2015-06-01 | 196436001 | 0.800 ppm |
2015-07-08 | 204295001 | 0.769 ppm |
2015-07-08 | 204295001 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-08-10 | 210459001 | 0.795 ppm |
2015-08-10 | 210459001 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-09-01 | 214710001 | 0.600 ppm |
2015-09-01 | 214710001 | 0.741 ppm |
2015-10-05 | 221417001 | 0.734 ppm |
2015-10-05 | 221417001 | 0.750 ppm |
2015-11-03 | 226784001 | 0.700 ppm |
2015-11-03 | 226784001 | 0.809 ppm |
2015-12-01 | 230385001 | 0.710 ppm |
2015-12-01 | 230385001 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-01-05 | 234425001 | 0.695 ppm |
2016-01-05 | 234425001 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-02-01 | 237622001 | 0.648 ppm |
2016-02-01 | 237622001 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-03-07 | 242385001 | 0.700 ppm |
2016-03-07 | 242385001 | 0.726 ppm |
2016-04-27 | 251014001 | 0.660 ppm |
2016-04-27 | 251014001 | 0.685 ppm |
2017-04-24 | 984925 | 0.120 ppm |
2017-04-24 | 984922 | 0.140 ppm |