Fluoride
Coachella Valley Water District: Cove Community
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.
176
Samples
0
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
0
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.587 ppm | 29 | 29 | 0.140 ppm - 1.000 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.495 ppm | 33 | 33 | 0.190 ppm - 0.740 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.610 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.270 ppm - 0.810 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.553 ppm | 29 | 29 | 0.170 ppm - 0.960 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.535 ppm | 36 | 36 | 0.140 ppm - 0.730 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.622 ppm | 25 | 25 | 0.390 ppm - 0.790 ppm |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-05-05 | 4790-279-1224 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2014-06-18 | 5135-022-0852 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2014-06-18 | 5135-118-0751 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2014-06-18 | 5135-154-0850 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2014-06-18 | 5135-164-0740 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2014-06-18 | 5135-169-0942 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2014-06-18 | 5135-201-1106 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2014-06-18 | 5135-220-0902 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2014-06-18 | 5135-249-0828 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2014-07-01 | 5135-011-0752 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2014-07-01 | 5135-170-0851 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2014-07-01 | 5135-179-1042 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2014-07-01 | 5135-202-0958 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2014-07-01 | 5135-206-0838 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2014-07-01 | 5135-219-1215 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2014-07-01 | 5135-221-1111 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2014-07-01 | 5135-257-0750 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2014-07-08 | 5135-020-0805 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2014-07-08 | 5135-084-0855 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2014-07-08 | 5135-167-0950 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2014-07-08 | 5135-168-0931 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2014-07-08 | 5135-176-0823 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-07-08 | 5135-199-0742 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2014-07-29 | 5135-088-1024 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2014-07-29 | 5135-117-0932 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2014-07-29 | 5135-223-0850 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2014-09-09 | 4790-271-1107 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2014-09-11 | 4790-261-1034 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2014-11-20 | 4790-273-0945 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2015-06-23 | 5135-105-1000 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2015-06-23 | 5135-131-0807 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2015-06-23 | 5135-143-0827 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2015-06-23 | 5135-174-0732 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2015-06-23 | 5135-200-0915 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2015-06-23 | 5135-203-0925 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2015-06-23 | 5135-222-0840 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2015-06-25 | 5135-130-0828 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2015-06-25 | 5135-146-0736 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2015-06-25 | 5135-173-0955 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2015-06-25 | 5135-175-0748 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2015-06-25 | 5135-198-0827 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2015-06-25 | 5135-205-0920 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2015-07-08 | 5135-106-1000 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2015-07-08 | 5135-135-0912 | 0.380 ppm |
| 2015-07-08 | 5135-172-1049 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2015-07-08 | 5135-177-0920 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2015-07-08 | 5135-178-0832 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2015-07-08 | 5135-209-1011 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2015-07-16 | 5135-073-0818 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2015-07-16 | 5135-079-0908 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2015-07-16 | 5135-207-0843 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2015-07-16 | 5135-210-0955 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2015-07-16 | 5135-214-0755 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2015-07-21 | 5135-109-0840 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2015-07-21 | 5135-145-0920 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2015-07-21 | 5135-158-1000 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2015-07-21 | 5135-182-1058 | 0.520 ppm |
| 2015-07-21 | 5135-215-0925 | 0.370 ppm |
| 2015-07-28 | 5135-134-0942 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2015-07-28 | 5135-159-1042 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2015-09-30 | 5135-194-1030 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2015-09-30 | 5135-204-0945 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2016-07-12 | 5135-031-0845 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2016-07-12 | 5135-032-0918 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2016-07-12 | 5135-080-0950 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2016-07-12 | 5135-129-0944 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2016-07-12 | 5135-166-0900 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2016-07-12 | 5135-196-0807 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2016-07-12 | 5135-212-1313 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2016-07-12 | 5135-216-0752 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 5135-023-0848 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 5135-029-1002 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 5135-041-1030 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 5135-128-0846 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 5135-132-1109 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 5135-160-1016 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2016-07-19 | 5135-218-1104 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2016-08-09 | 5135-024-0857 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2016-08-09 | 5135-042-0915 | 0.810 ppm |
| 2016-08-09 | 5135-136-1020 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2016-08-09 | 5135-155-0917 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2016-08-09 | 5135-217-0840 | 0.470 ppm |
| 2016-08-11 | 5135-025-0840 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2016-08-11 | 5135-030-0948 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2016-08-11 | 5135-125-0950 | 0.340 ppm |
| 2016-08-11 | 5135-165-0845 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2017-01-23 | 9590-224-1045 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2017-06-13 | 5135-011-0934 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2017-06-13 | 5135-117-1020 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2017-06-13 | 5135-130-0920 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2017-06-13 | 5135-154-0820 | 0.170 ppm |
| 2017-06-13 | 5135-164-0853 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2017-06-13 | 5135-223-1142 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2017-06-14 | 5135-118-0903 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2017-06-14 | 5135-179-0850 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2017-06-14 | 5135-201-1000 | 0.420 ppm |
| 2017-06-14 | 5135-206-1050 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2017-06-14 | 5135-219-1108 | 0.270 ppm |
| 2017-06-14 | 5135-279-1009 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | 5135-022-0830 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | 5135-084-0925 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | 5135-166-1054 | 0.300 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | 5135-169-1020 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2017-07-12 | 5135-176-0902 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 5135-167-1003 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 5135-168-1042 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 5135-170-0816 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 5135-199-1200 | 0.320 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 5135-202-0902 | 0.950 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 5135-261-0840 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2017-08-09 | 5135-271-0945 | 0.960 ppm |
| 2017-08-16 | 5135-020-1215 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2017-08-16 | 5135-220-0917 | 0.490 ppm |
| 2017-08-16 | 5135-249-0820 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2017-08-30 | 5135-257-0930 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-03-14 | 9590-198-1010 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2018-04-25 | 9590-221-0815 | 0.140 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 5135-073-0855 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 5135-145-0935 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 5135-146-0852 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 5135-172-1108 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 5135-182-1017 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 5135-194-1131 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 5135-200-1010 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 5135-207-0937 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 5135-210-0825 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-06-12 | 5135-215-0812 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 5135-106-0915 | 0.460 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 5135-109-0755 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 5135-158-1035 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 5135-173-0835 | 0.360 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 5135-177-1010 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 5135-203-0933 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 5135-204-1137 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 5135-216-1031 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-06-13 | 5135-222-0831 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2018-06-26 | 5135-131-1022 | 0.210 ppm |
| 2018-06-26 | 5135-134-1100 | 0.350 ppm |
| 2018-06-26 | 5135-174-0816 | 0.400 ppm |
| 2018-06-26 | 5135-175-0957 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2018-06-26 | 5135-205-0915 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2018-06-27 | 5135-209-1031 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-06-27 | 5135-214-0947 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-09-17 | 9590-130-1238 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2018-09-17 | 9590-166-1050 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2018-09-17 | 9590-167-1152 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2018-09-17 | 9590-168-1335 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2018-09-17 | 9590-169-1110 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2018-09-26 | 5135-145-0910 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2018-09-26 | 5135-282-1215 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2018-12-20 | 9590-281-1240 | 0.430 ppm |
| 2019-04-30 | 9590-079-1150 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 9590-025-0925 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 9590-042-0755 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 9590-125-1030 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 9590-128-0810 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 9590-155-0952 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 9590-160-0850 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 9590-196-1110 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 9590-212-0930 | 0.480 ppm |
| 2019-05-14 | 9590-217-0720 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-05-15 | 9590-023-1015 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2019-05-15 | 9590-030-0905 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-05-15 | 9590-031-0835 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-05-15 | 9590-041-0715 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2019-05-15 | 9590-132-1115 | 0.630 ppm |
| 2019-05-15 | 9590-136-1030 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2019-05-15 | 9590-218-1215 | 0.440 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 9590-024-1102 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 9590-032-0907 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 9590-129-1035 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 9590-165-0951 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 9590-224-0832 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2019-05-22 | 9590-282-0935 | 0.510 ppm |
| 2019-12-18 | 9590-029-1100 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2019-12-18 | 9590-105-1140 | 0.780 ppm |