Fluoride
Coloma 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 | 0.432 ppm | 26 | 26 | 0.0580 ppm - 0.680 ppm |
2015 | 0.456 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.400 ppm - 0.613 ppm |
2016 | 0.447 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.260 ppm - 0.610 ppm |
2017 | 0.343 ppm | 8 | 8 | 0.0740 ppm - 0.620 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-01-07 | 115275001 | 0.555 ppm |
2014-01-07 | 115275001 | 0.680 ppm |
2014-02-04 | 118585001 | 0.517 ppm |
2014-02-04 | 118585001 | 0.580 ppm |
2014-03-04 | 121719001 | 0.580 ppm |
2014-03-04 | 121719001 | 0.375 ppm |
2014-04-01 | 125718001 | 0.481 ppm |
2014-04-01 | 125718001 | 0.520 ppm |
2014-05-06 | 130759001 | 0.520 ppm |
2014-05-06 | 130759001 | 0.522 ppm |
2014-06-03 | 136579001 | 0.375 ppm |
2014-06-03 | 136579001 | 0.500 ppm |
2014-07-08 | 144085001 | 0.480 ppm |
2014-07-08 | 144085001 | 0.367 ppm |
2014-08-05 | 149508001 | 0.460 ppm |
2014-08-05 | 149508001 | 0.347 ppm |
2014-08-20 | 812084 | 0.0580 ppm |
2014-08-20 | 812087 | 0.0640 ppm |
2014-09-02 | 154442001 | 0.345 ppm |
2014-09-02 | 154442001 | 0.460 ppm |
2014-10-07 | 162251001 | 0.409 ppm |
2014-10-07 | 162251001 | 0.420 ppm |
2014-11-04 | 167021001 | 0.358 ppm |
2014-11-04 | 167021001 | 0.420 ppm |
2014-12-01 | 170316001 | 0.400 ppm |
2014-12-01 | 170316001 | 0.431 ppm |
2015-01-06 | 174597001 | 0.480 ppm |
2015-01-06 | 174597001 | 0.400 ppm |
2015-02-03 | 178151001 | 0.400 ppm |
2015-02-03 | 178151001 | 0.464 ppm |
2015-03-02 | 181582001 | 0.437 ppm |
2015-03-02 | 181582001 | 0.420 ppm |
2015-04-06 | 186414001 | 0.400 ppm |
2015-04-06 | 186414001 | 0.613 ppm |
2015-05-05 | 191761001 | 0.440 ppm |
2015-05-05 | 191761001 | 0.517 ppm |
2015-06-01 | 197014001 | 0.460 ppm |
2015-06-01 | 197014001 | 0.472 ppm |
2015-07-07 | 204262001 | 0.440 ppm |
2015-07-07 | 204262001 | 0.467 ppm |
2015-08-04 | 209944001 | 0.440 ppm |
2015-08-04 | 209944001 | 0.466 ppm |
2015-09-01 | 214942001 | 0.420 ppm |
2015-09-01 | 214942001 | 0.491 ppm |
2015-10-06 | 222393001 | 0.400 ppm |
2015-10-06 | 222393001 | 0.484 ppm |
2015-11-03 | 226998001 | 0.420 ppm |
2015-11-03 | 226998001 | 0.499 ppm |
2015-12-01 | 230800001 | 0.420 ppm |
2015-12-01 | 230800001 | 0.490 ppm |
2016-01-05 | 234757001 | 0.610 ppm |
2016-01-05 | 234757001 | 0.440 ppm |
2016-02-01 | 238081001 | 0.260 ppm |
2016-02-01 | 238081001 | 0.461 ppm |
2016-03-08 | 243287001 | 0.443 ppm |
2016-03-08 | 243287001 | 0.460 ppm |
2016-04-04 | 246875001 | 0.440 ppm |
2016-04-04 | 246875001 | 0.509 ppm |
2016-05-03 | 252421001 | 0.460 ppm |
2016-05-03 | 252421001 | 0.502 ppm |
2016-06-01 | 257683001 | 0.460 ppm |
2016-06-01 | 257683001 | 0.359 ppm |
2016-07-05 | 264240001 | 0.420 ppm |
2016-07-05 | 264240001 | 0.440 ppm |
2016-08-09 | 271399001 | 0.440 ppm |
2016-08-09 | 271399001 | 0.433 ppm |
2016-09-07 | 276344001 | 0.420 ppm |
2016-09-07 | 276344001 | 0.450 ppm |
2016-10-04 | 282305001 | 0.440 ppm |
2016-10-04 | 282305001 | 0.460 ppm |
2016-11-01 | 286949001 | 0.430 ppm |
2016-11-01 | 286949001 | 0.463 ppm |
2016-12-06 | 291834001 | 0.460 ppm |
2016-12-06 | 291834001 | 0.477 ppm |
2017-01-03 | 294921001 | 0.440 ppm |
2017-01-03 | 294921001 | 0.471 ppm |
2017-02-07 | 299225001 | 0.456 ppm |
2017-02-07 | 299225001 | 0.460 ppm |
2017-03-07 | 303174001 | 0.138 ppm |
2017-03-07 | 303174001 | 0.620 ppm |
2017-08-23 | 1013412 | 0.0740 ppm |
2017-08-23 | 1013415 | 0.0870 ppm |