Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Fluoride

Athens 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.

 

146

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.662 ppm24240.590 ppm - 0.820 ppm
20190.644 ppm24240.530 ppm - 0.830 ppm
20200.595 ppm21210.390 ppm - 0.750 ppm
20210.612 ppm28280.491 ppm - 0.800 ppm
20220.640 ppm24240.400 ppm - 0.740 ppm
20230.624 ppm25250.0780 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
2018-01-083619530010.637 ppm
2018-01-083619530010.720 ppm
2018-02-223683160010.623 ppm
2018-02-223683160010.650 ppm
2018-03-123707960010.631 ppm
2018-03-123707960010.750 ppm
2018-04-103758730010.633 ppm
2018-04-103758730010.700 ppm
2018-05-163830260010.608 ppm
2018-05-163830260010.820 ppm
2018-06-203902430010.616 ppm
2018-06-203902430010.700 ppm
2018-07-023921780010.590 ppm
2018-07-023921780010.640 ppm
2018-08-214030120010.696 ppm
2018-08-214030120010.730 ppm
2018-09-244105640010.596 ppm
2018-09-244105640010.620 ppm
2018-10-244164500010.596 ppm
2018-10-244164500010.730 ppm
2018-11-204209050010.602 ppm
2018-11-204209050010.660 ppm
2018-12-194254170010.596 ppm
2018-12-194254170010.750 ppm
2019-01-304295850010.628 ppm
2019-01-304295850010.760 ppm
2019-02-194323830010.608 ppm
2019-02-194323830010.730 ppm
2019-03-194366290010.530 ppm
2019-03-194366290010.630 ppm
2019-04-174412760010.596 ppm
2019-04-174412760010.830 ppm
2019-05-204475650010.600 ppm
2019-05-204475650010.600 ppm
2019-06-134518330010.587 ppm
2019-06-134518330010.640 ppm
2019-07-154583980010.573 ppm
2019-07-154583980010.640 ppm
2019-08-144640170010.582 ppm
2019-08-144640170010.700 ppm
2019-09-244725310010.634 ppm
2019-09-244725310010.660 ppm
2019-10-294788070010.611 ppm
2019-10-294788070010.730 ppm
2019-11-134815320010.623 ppm
2019-11-134815320010.630 ppm
2019-12-094853020010.616 ppm
2019-12-094853020010.710 ppm
2020-01-064887480010.597 ppm
2020-01-064887480010.650 ppm
2020-04-205017790010.600 ppm
2020-04-205017790010.602 ppm
2020-05-115047710010.613 ppm
2020-05-115047710010.680 ppm
2020-06-165106960010.580 ppm
2020-06-165106960010.750 ppm
2020-07-2120G0690-010.560 ppm
2020-07-275170770010.540 ppm
2020-07-275170770010.660 ppm
2020-08-245220590010.551 ppm
2020-08-245220590010.600 ppm
2020-09-145253830010.390 ppm
2020-09-145253830010.500 ppm
2020-10-125314100010.540 ppm
2020-10-125314100010.598 ppm
2020-11-035348180010.583 ppm
2020-11-035348180010.650 ppm
2020-12-095398450010.609 ppm
2020-12-095398450010.650 ppm
2021-01-215447290010.595 ppm
2021-01-215447290010.700 ppm
2021-02-155479670010.491 ppm
2021-02-155479670010.500 ppm
2021-02-155479670010.491 ppm
2021-02-155479670010.500 ppm
2021-03-025501960010.560 ppm
2021-03-025501960010.628 ppm
2021-03-025501960010.560 ppm
2021-03-025501960010.628 ppm
2021-04-195576650010.613 ppm
2021-04-195576650010.670 ppm
2021-05-245640310010.586 ppm
2021-05-245640310010.650 ppm
2021-06-085663720010.580 ppm
2021-06-085663720010.582 ppm
2021-07-185737920010.537 ppm
2021-07-185737920010.570 ppm
2021-08-115781010010.625 ppm
2021-08-115781010010.800 ppm
2021-09-085825620010.624 ppm
2021-09-085825620010.680 ppm
2021-10-115894550010.635 ppm
2021-10-115894550010.710 ppm
2021-11-015929130010.625 ppm
2021-11-015929130010.690 ppm
2021-12-075979310010.635 ppm
2021-12-075979310010.680 ppm
2022-01-126020000010.400 ppm
2022-01-126020000010.628 ppm
2022-02-086054340010.646 ppm
2022-02-086054340010.690 ppm
2022-03-216108890010.634 ppm
2022-03-216108890010.660 ppm
2022-04-056130680010.628 ppm
2022-04-056130680010.680 ppm
2022-05-236216090010.632 ppm
2022-05-236216090010.730 ppm
2022-06-136254240010.628 ppm
2022-06-136254240010.730 ppm
2022-07-266334360010.473 ppm
2022-07-266334360010.600 ppm
2022-08-296398230010.608 ppm
2022-08-296398230010.720 ppm
2022-09-126425430010.560 ppm
2022-09-126425430010.680 ppm
2022-10-046471500010.628 ppm
2022-10-046471500010.740 ppm
2022-11-066522490010.627 ppm
2022-11-066522490010.710 ppm
2022-12-066565560010.627 ppm
2022-12-066565560010.710 ppm
2023-01-186615100010.670 ppm
2023-01-186615100010.780 ppm
2023-02-226659190010.641 ppm
2023-02-226659190010.770 ppm
2023-03-126686160010.629 ppm
2023-03-126686160010.730 ppm
2023-04-046718660010.631 ppm
2023-04-046718660010.690 ppm
2023-05-016767010010.525 ppm
2023-05-016767010010.620 ppm
2023-06-056826830010.505 ppm
2023-06-056826830010.630 ppm
2023-07-176903450010.503 ppm
2023-07-176903450010.550 ppm
2023-08-106944520010.618 ppm
2023-08-106944520010.680 ppm
2023-09-117002520010.582 ppm
2023-09-117002520010.690 ppm
2023-09-13CB11143-010.0780 ppm
2023-10-047048750010.602 ppm
2023-10-047048750010.700 ppm
2023-11-107103900010.624 ppm
2023-11-107103900010.750 ppm
2023-12-047137010010.602 ppm
2023-12-047137010010.800 ppm