Fluoride
Cedarburg L & W Commission
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.741 ppm | 28 | 28 | 0.160 ppm - 0.970 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.890 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.610 ppm - 1.16 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.721 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.391 ppm - 1.000 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.680 ppm | 28 | 28 | 0.180 ppm - 1.12 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.591 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.319 ppm - 0.947 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.684 ppm | 24 | 24 | 0.219 ppm - 1.51 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-07 | 115278001 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2014-01-07 | 115278001 | 0.889 ppm |
| 2014-02-24 | 120696001 | 0.820 ppm |
| 2014-02-24 | 120696001 | 0.932 ppm |
| 2014-03-04 | 772854 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2014-03-04 | 772850 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2014-03-04 | 772852 | 0.310 ppm |
| 2014-03-04 | 772848 | 0.330 ppm |
| 2014-03-17 | 123544001 | 0.558 ppm |
| 2014-03-17 | 123544001 | 0.660 ppm |
| 2014-04-14 | 127394001 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2014-04-14 | 127394001 | 0.878 ppm |
| 2014-05-19 | 133686001 | 0.800 ppm |
| 2014-05-19 | 133686001 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2014-06-16 | 139240001 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2014-06-16 | 139240001 | 0.938 ppm |
| 2014-07-14 | 144974001 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2014-07-14 | 144974001 | 0.764 ppm |
| 2014-08-25 | 153327001 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2014-08-25 | 153327001 | 0.970 ppm |
| 2014-09-15 | 157124001 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2014-09-15 | 157124001 | 0.941 ppm |
| 2014-10-20 | 164598001 | 0.719 ppm |
| 2014-10-20 | 164598001 | 0.830 ppm |
| 2014-11-17 | 168835001 | 0.642 ppm |
| 2014-11-17 | 168835001 | 0.780 ppm |
| 2014-12-08 | 171694001 | 0.886 ppm |
| 2014-12-08 | 171694001 | 0.890 ppm |
| 2015-01-20 | 176519001 | 0.870 ppm |
| 2015-01-20 | 176519001 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2015-02-09 | 178962001 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2015-02-09 | 178962001 | 0.841 ppm |
| 2015-03-09 | 182656001 | 0.894 ppm |
| 2015-03-09 | 182656001 | 0.910 ppm |
| 2015-04-06 | 186391001 | 0.610 ppm |
| 2015-04-06 | 186391001 | 0.796 ppm |
| 2015-05-20 | 195160001 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2015-05-20 | 195160001 | 1.10 ppm |
| 2015-06-22 | 201336001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2015-06-22 | 201336001 | 0.856 ppm |
| 2015-07-13 | 205272001 | 0.940 ppm |
| 2015-07-13 | 205272001 | 1.16 ppm |
| 2015-08-10 | 210867001 | 0.893 ppm |
| 2015-08-10 | 210867001 | 1.12 ppm |
| 2015-09-21 | 219116001 | 0.900 ppm |
| 2015-09-21 | 219116001 | 0.942 ppm |
| 2015-10-13 | 223798001 | 0.991 ppm |
| 2015-10-13 | 223798001 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2015-11-09 | 227856001 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2015-11-09 | 227856001 | 0.951 ppm |
| 2015-12-14 | 232694001 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2015-12-14 | 232694001 | 0.824 ppm |
| 2016-01-11 | 235410001 | 0.595 ppm |
| 2016-01-11 | 235410001 | 0.640 ppm |
| 2016-02-08 | 238852001 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2016-02-08 | 238852001 | 0.873 ppm |
| 2016-03-14 | 244011001 | 0.812 ppm |
| 2016-03-14 | 244011001 | 0.880 ppm |
| 2016-04-11 | 248127001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2016-04-11 | 248127001 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2016-05-23 | 256317001 | 0.954 ppm |
| 2016-05-23 | 256317001 | 1.000 ppm |
| 2016-06-13 | 260166001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2016-06-13 | 260166001 | 0.983 ppm |
| 2016-07-18 | 266996001 | 0.655 ppm |
| 2016-07-18 | 266996001 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2016-08-15 | 272277001 | 0.850 ppm |
| 2016-08-15 | 272277001 | 0.965 ppm |
| 2016-09-19 | 278714001 | 0.391 ppm |
| 2016-09-19 | 278714001 | 0.450 ppm |
| 2016-10-17 | 284499001 | 0.760 ppm |
| 2016-10-17 | 284499001 | 0.933 ppm |
| 2016-11-14 | 289067001 | 0.445 ppm |
| 2016-11-14 | 289067001 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2016-12-12 | 292671001 | 0.526 ppm |
| 2016-12-12 | 292671001 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2017-01-16 | 969876 | 0.180 ppm |
| 2017-01-16 | 969886 | 0.220 ppm |
| 2017-01-16 | 969879 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2017-01-16 | 969883 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2017-01-23 | 297313001 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2017-01-23 | 297313001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2017-02-13 | 299893001 | 0.518 ppm |
| 2017-02-13 | 299893001 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2017-03-13 | 303886001 | 0.486 ppm |
| 2017-03-13 | 303886001 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2017-04-17 | 310343001 | 0.479 ppm |
| 2017-04-17 | 310343001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2017-05-23 | 317851001 | 0.770 ppm |
| 2017-05-23 | 317851001 | 0.893 ppm |
| 2017-06-12 | 321328001 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2017-06-12 | 321328001 | 0.985 ppm |
| 2017-07-17 | 329227001 | 0.539 ppm |
| 2017-07-17 | 329227001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2017-08-14 | 335709001 | 1.06 ppm |
| 2017-08-14 | 335709001 | 1.12 ppm |
| 2017-09-18 | 343209001 | 0.930 ppm |
| 2017-09-18 | 343209001 | 1.05 ppm |
| 2017-10-23 | 350606001 | 1.02 ppm |
| 2017-10-23 | 350606001 | 1.06 ppm |
| 2017-11-13 | 354275001 | 0.730 ppm |
| 2017-11-13 | 354275001 | 0.982 ppm |
| 2017-12-11 | 358870001 | 0.468 ppm |
| 2017-12-11 | 358870001 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2018-01-22 | 363872001 | 0.505 ppm |
| 2018-01-22 | 363872001 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2018-02-12 | 366686001 | 0.495 ppm |
| 2018-02-12 | 366686001 | 0.580 ppm |
| 2018-03-12 | 370805001 | 0.499 ppm |
| 2018-03-12 | 370805001 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | 374162001 | 0.536 ppm |
| 2018-04-02 | 374162001 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2018-05-21 | 383697001 | 0.503 ppm |
| 2018-05-21 | 383697001 | 0.720 ppm |
| 2018-06-11 | 387912001 | 0.531 ppm |
| 2018-06-11 | 387912001 | 0.590 ppm |
| 2018-07-16 | 394807001 | 0.515 ppm |
| 2018-07-16 | 394807001 | 0.560 ppm |
| 2018-08-20 | 402201001 | 0.508 ppm |
| 2018-08-20 | 402201001 | 0.790 ppm |
| 2018-09-17 | 408410001 | 0.498 ppm |
| 2018-09-17 | 408410001 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2018-10-22 | 415815001 | 0.680 ppm |
| 2018-10-22 | 415815001 | 0.947 ppm |
| 2018-11-13 | 419883001 | 0.319 ppm |
| 2018-11-13 | 419883001 | 0.540 ppm |
| 2018-12-17 | 424817001 | 0.670 ppm |
| 2018-12-17 | 424817001 | 0.761 ppm |
| 2019-01-14 | 427836001 | 0.600 ppm |
| 2019-01-14 | 427836001 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2019-02-19 | 432328001 | 0.509 ppm |
| 2019-02-19 | 432328001 | 0.710 ppm |
| 2019-03-11 | 434862001 | 0.544 ppm |
| 2019-03-11 | 434862001 | 0.740 ppm |
| 2019-04-08 | 439440001 | 0.702 ppm |
| 2019-04-08 | 439440001 | 0.750 ppm |
| 2019-05-20 | 447234001 | 1.04 ppm |
| 2019-05-20 | 447234001 | 1.39 ppm |
| 2019-06-17 | 452318001 | 0.620 ppm |
| 2019-06-17 | 452318001 | 0.706 ppm |
| 2019-07-08 | 456243001 | 0.686 ppm |
| 2019-07-08 | 456243001 | 0.690 ppm |
| 2019-08-12 | 463137001 | 0.650 ppm |
| 2019-08-12 | 463137001 | 0.668 ppm |
| 2019-09-16 | 470554001 | 0.408 ppm |
| 2019-09-16 | 470554001 | 0.570 ppm |
| 2019-10-21 | 477494001 | 0.700 ppm |
| 2019-10-21 | 477494001 | 1.51 ppm |
| 2019-11-12 | 481221001 | 0.392 ppm |
| 2019-11-12 | 481221001 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2019-12-09 | 485304001 | 0.219 ppm |
| 2019-12-09 | 485304001 | 0.450 ppm |