Fluoride
Clinton Waterworks
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 | 0.686 ppm | 26 | 26 | 0.120 ppm - 0.970 ppm |
2015 | 0.729 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.592 ppm - 0.853 ppm |
2016 | 0.737 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.533 ppm - 1.000 ppm |
2017 | 0.856 ppm | 10 | 10 | 0.130 ppm - 2.00 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-01-14 | 116169001 | 0.970 ppm |
2014-01-14 | 116169001 | 0.810 ppm |
2014-02-03 | 118118001 | 0.609 ppm |
2014-02-03 | 118118001 | 0.880 ppm |
2014-03-10 | 122809001 | 0.628 ppm |
2014-03-10 | 122809001 | 0.950 ppm |
2014-04-07 | 127103001 | 0.650 ppm |
2014-04-07 | 127103001 | 0.677 ppm |
2014-04-21 | 781768 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-04-22 | 781771 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-05-13 | 132441001 | 0.652 ppm |
2014-05-13 | 132441001 | 0.790 ppm |
2014-06-02 | 136584001 | 0.700 ppm |
2014-06-02 | 136584001 | 0.688 ppm |
2014-07-07 | 144354001 | 0.653 ppm |
2014-07-07 | 144354001 | 0.690 ppm |
2014-08-05 | 149560001 | 0.805 ppm |
2014-08-05 | 149560001 | 0.767 ppm |
2014-09-02 | 154445001 | 0.638 ppm |
2014-09-02 | 154445001 | 0.710 ppm |
2014-10-14 | 163733001 | 0.685 ppm |
2014-10-14 | 163733001 | 0.734 ppm |
2014-11-17 | 168696001 | 0.756 ppm |
2014-11-17 | 168696001 | 0.755 ppm |
2014-12-08 | 171514001 | 0.708 ppm |
2014-12-08 | 171514001 | 0.687 ppm |
2015-01-12 | 175505001 | 0.769 ppm |
2015-01-12 | 175505001 | 0.791 ppm |
2015-02-11 | 179489001 | 0.853 ppm |
2015-02-11 | 179489001 | 0.822 ppm |
2015-03-04 | 182166001 | 0.734 ppm |
2015-03-04 | 182166001 | 0.809 ppm |
2015-04-06 | 186416001 | 0.743 ppm |
2015-04-06 | 186416001 | 0.774 ppm |
2015-05-12 | 193224001 | 0.753 ppm |
2015-05-12 | 193224001 | 0.835 ppm |
2015-06-08 | 198568001 | 0.708 ppm |
2015-06-08 | 198568001 | 0.749 ppm |
2015-07-06 | 203709001 | 0.841 ppm |
2015-07-06 | 203709001 | 0.787 ppm |
2015-08-04 | 209927001 | 0.592 ppm |
2015-08-04 | 209927001 | 0.658 ppm |
2015-09-09 | 216458001 | 0.647 ppm |
2015-09-09 | 216458001 | 0.622 ppm |
2015-10-05 | 222499001 | 0.610 ppm |
2015-10-05 | 222499001 | 0.638 ppm |
2015-11-02 | 227278001 | 0.688 ppm |
2015-11-02 | 227278001 | 0.711 ppm |
2015-12-08 | 232167001 | 0.680 ppm |
2015-12-08 | 232167001 | 0.686 ppm |
2016-01-11 | 235853001 | 0.710 ppm |
2016-01-11 | 235853001 | 0.707 ppm |
2016-02-09 | 239254001 | 0.691 ppm |
2016-02-09 | 239254001 | 0.648 ppm |
2016-03-14 | 244014001 | 0.924 ppm |
2016-03-14 | 244014001 | 1.000 ppm |
2016-04-05 | 247316001 | 0.681 ppm |
2016-04-05 | 247316001 | 0.653 ppm |
2016-05-09 | 253403001 | 0.898 ppm |
2016-05-09 | 253403001 | 0.905 ppm |
2016-06-06 | 258553001 | 0.745 ppm |
2016-06-06 | 258553001 | 0.756 ppm |
2016-07-12 | 265628001 | 0.696 ppm |
2016-07-12 | 265628001 | 0.671 ppm |
2016-08-08 | 270751001 | 0.694 ppm |
2016-08-08 | 270751001 | 0.653 ppm |
2016-09-12 | 277534001 | 0.538 ppm |
2016-09-12 | 277534001 | 0.553 ppm |
2016-10-05 | 282537001 | 0.540 ppm |
2016-10-05 | 282537001 | 0.533 ppm |
2016-11-08 | 288459001 | 0.880 ppm |
2016-11-08 | 288459001 | 0.928 ppm |
2016-12-06 | 291863001 | 0.830 ppm |
2016-12-06 | 291863001 | 0.863 ppm |
2017-01-10 | 296077001 | 0.850 ppm |
2017-01-10 | 296077001 | 0.848 ppm |
2017-01-31 | 971841 | 0.130 ppm |
2017-02-01 | 971845 | 2.00 ppm |
2017-02-06 | 298875001 | 0.806 ppm |
2017-02-06 | 298875001 | 0.862 ppm |
2017-03-07 | 302948001 | 0.708 ppm |
2017-03-07 | 302948001 | 0.670 ppm |
2017-04-04 | 307998001 | 0.831 ppm |
2017-04-04 | 307998001 | 0.854 ppm |