Quick Answer: Is Fluoride in Drinking Water?
Yes. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can be present in groundwater, and some public water systems also adjust fluoride levels as part of community water fluoridation programs.
The amount of fluoride in your water depends on your water source and local water system. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for community water systems that fluoridate. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently has a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 4.0 mg/L for fluoride in public drinking water and a secondary standard of 2.0 mg/L.
If you want to know how much fluoride is actually in your home’s water, check your public water system’s annual water quality report or have your water analyzed by a qualified laboratory.
For homeowners who want to reduce fluoride in their drinking water, certain reverse osmosis systems are specifically tested and certified for fluoride reduction.
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring form of the element fluorine. It can occur naturally in groundwater as water moves through rocks and soil containing fluoride-bearing minerals.
Fluoride can therefore be present in private well water even when it has never been intentionally added.
Some public water systems practice community water fluoridation, which involves adjusting naturally occurring fluoride to a recommended concentration. Other water supplies may contain naturally occurring fluoride without additional fluoridation.
For homeowners, the important distinction is that fluoride concentration varies by water source.
How Much Fluoride Is in Public Drinking Water?
The amount varies from one community to another.
The U.S. Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 mg/L for community water systems that fluoridate their water. The EPA currently regulates fluoride in public drinking water with a Maximum Contaminant Level of 4.0 mg/L. The EPA also maintains a secondary standard of 2.0 mg/L.
These numbers have different regulatory purposes and should not be treated as interchangeable. The 0.7 mg/L figure is the federal recommendation for community water fluoridation. The 4.0 mg/L figure is the EPA's federally enforceable maximum contaminant level for public water systems.
Is Fluoride Added to Every Public Water Supply?
No. Fluoridation practices vary by community. Some public water systems adjust fluoride concentrations, while others do not. Even a system that does not add fluoride may have naturally occurring fluoride in its source water.
If your home receives municipal water, your water supplier is the best place to start. Public water systems regularly test their water and provide customers with an annual Consumer Confidence Report, often called a water quality report.
That report can provide information about fluoride and other regulated substances detected in the water system.
What About Fluoride in Private Well Water?
Private well water is different. Fluoride can occur naturally in groundwater, so a private well may contain fluoride even though nothing has been intentionally added to the water.
The concentration cannot be determined by looking at, smelling or tasting the water. A laboratory analysis is necessary to determine the fluoride concentration of private well water.
Michigan homeowners can obtain drinking-water testing through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Drinking Water Laboratory or another appropriately certified drinking-water laboratory.
Can You Taste or Smell Fluoride in Water?
Fluoride concentration should not be estimated based on the appearance, smell or taste of your water. Water that looks and tastes perfectly normal can still contain dissolved minerals and other substances.
This is why laboratory testing and public water-quality reports are more useful than trying to identify fluoride based on noticeable changes in the water.
How Do I Find Out How Much Fluoride Is in My Water?
If you're connected to a public water system, start with your community's Consumer Confidence Report or contact your water supplier. If you have a private well, fluoride concentration can be determined through laboratory testing.
Michigan's EGLE Drinking Water Laboratory specifically offers fluoride analysis, and Michigan also maintains information about certified drinking-water laboratories.
Tri-County Water can help homeowners better understand their overall water conditions and treatment options. However, a standard in-home water evaluation should not be confused with certified laboratory analysis for a specific contaminant.
If determining an exact fluoride concentration is important, laboratory testing is the appropriate first step.
Can a Water Softener Remove Fluoride?
A traditional water softener is not designed to remove fluoride. Water softeners primarily address hardness minerals such as calcium and magnesium through ion exchange.
This is an important distinction because water softening and drinking-water filtration solve different water problems. A home may benefit from a water softener because of hard water while requiring a separate drinking-water system for reducing specific dissolved substances.
Does Reverse Osmosis Reduce Fluoride?
Yes, certain reverse osmosis systems can significantly reduce fluoride.
Reverse osmosis uses pressure to move water through a semipermeable membrane. The process can reduce many dissolved substances that conventional sediment filtration and water softening do not address.
However, homeowners should not assume that every product marketed as a reverse osmosis system provides the same performance. Look at the manufacturer's performance data and independent certification for the specific contaminant you want to reduce.
The ERO-385 and Fluoride Reduction
Tri-County Water offers the EcoWater ERO-385 Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System for point-of-use drinking water treatment. According to current EcoWater performance information, the ERO-385, ERO-385E and HERO-385Plus provide an average fluoride reduction of 96.5% under the manufacturer's testing.
The ERO-385 series is tested and certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for applicable reverse osmosis performance claims, including fluoride reduction.
The system treats drinking water at the point of use rather than treating all water entering the home. This makes reverse osmosis an option for homeowners specifically interested in the water they use for drinking, cooking, coffee, ice and other kitchen uses.
Actual system performance depends on incoming water conditions, installation, maintenance and proper replacement of filters and membranes.
Should I Remove Fluoride From My Drinking Water?
That is ultimately a personal decision.
Tri-County Water's role is not to provide medical or dental advice or to tell homeowners whether they should consume fluoridated water.
Federal and state public-health agencies provide guidance regarding fluoride and community water fluoridation. Homeowners with questions about fluoride and their health, dental care or children's fluoride exposure should discuss those questions with an appropriate healthcare or dental professional.
From a water-treatment standpoint, Tri-County Water can help answer a different question:
If you know what is in your water and want to reduce a particular substance, what treatment technology is designed and verified to do it?
For fluoride, reverse osmosis is one available treatment technology, and the ERO-385 has documented fluoride-reduction performance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fluoride in Drinking Water
Is fluoride naturally found in water?
Yes. Fluoride occurs naturally in groundwater when water comes into contact with certain rocks and minerals. Its concentration varies by location and water source.
Is fluoride added to all city water?
No. Community fluoridation practices vary by public water system. Some systems adjust fluoride concentrations, while others do not. Naturally occurring fluoride may also be present regardless of whether a water system adds fluoride.
What is the recommended fluoride level for fluoridated drinking water?
The U.S. Public Health Service recommends 0.7 mg/L for community water systems that fluoridate their drinking water.
What is the EPA limit for fluoride in drinking water?
The EPA currently has a Maximum Contaminant Level of 4.0 mg/L for fluoride in public drinking water. The EPA also has a secondary standard of 2.0 mg/L.
How can I find the fluoride level in my tap water?
If you use municipal water, check your water provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report or contact the provider directly. If you use a private well, fluoride concentration can be determined through laboratory analysis.
Does a water softener remove fluoride?
No. Conventional water softeners are designed primarily to reduce hardness minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Fluoride reduction requires a treatment technology designed for that purpose.
Does reverse osmosis remove fluoride?
Certain reverse osmosis systems are tested and certified to reduce fluoride. Performance varies by system, so homeowners should verify the manufacturer's specific fluoride-reduction claims rather than assuming all RO systems perform identically.
Does the ERO-385 reduce fluoride?
Yes. EcoWater reports an average 96.5% fluoride reduction for the ERO-385, ERO-385E and HERO-385Plus. The ERO-385 series has been tested and certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for applicable reverse osmosis reduction claims.
Can Tri-County Water test my water for fluoride?
Tri-County Water can evaluate common water conditions and help homeowners understand treatment options. An exact fluoride concentration may require analysis by a certified drinking-water laboratory. Tri-County Water can use that information when helping determine an appropriate treatment solution.
Should I remove fluoride from my drinking water?
Whether to consume fluoridated water is a personal health and dental decision. Tri-County Water does not provide medical or dental advice. Homeowners with health-related questions about fluoride should consult qualified healthcare or dental professionals. Tri-County Water can provide information about water-treatment technologies for homeowners who choose to reduce fluoride in their drinking water.
Start by Understanding Your Water
Water treatment should begin with understanding the water entering your home.
Municipal-water customers can review their community's water-quality report. Private-well owners can use certified laboratory testing when they need to determine the concentration of a particular contaminant or mineral.
Tri-County Water can then help evaluate your home's water and determine which treatment options make sense for the water-quality concerns you want to address.
Schedule a Free Water Test with Tri-County Water to learn more about your home's overall water quality and available treatment options.
Important: Tri-County Water's complimentary water testing is intended to evaluate common water conditions and help identify appropriate treatment options. Testing for a specific fluoride concentration may require analysis by a certified laboratory.
