Fluoride in California Drinking Water
California has 20,579 public water systems. 12349 have recorded fluoride violations.
Total Systems
20,579
With Violations
12,349
EPA MCL
4
Population Served
42.7M
Fluoride in California: Key Facts
Total Water Systems
20,579
Systems with Violations
12,349
Lead Violations
142
Copper Violations
569
EPA Standard
4 mg/L
MCLG (goal): 4 mg/L
Water Systems with Violations in California
| System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| Grindstone Rancheria | 150 | 1214 |
| Tule River Reservation Main | 3K | 662 |
| Yurok - Weitchpec | 120 | 622 |
| Arizona Village | 3K | 607 |
| Oasis Mobile Home Park | 1K | 564 |
| ROHNERT PARK, CITY OF | 44K | 561 |
| Yurok - Kepel | 76 | 561 |
| Yurok - Wautec | 96 | 525 |
Health Effects of Fluoride Exposure
Dental fluorosis
Cosmetic tooth enamel changes at 2 mg/L+
Skeletal fluorosis
Bone damage with long-term exposure above 4 mg/L
At recommended levels (0.7 mg/L), fluoride benefits dental health
Dental fluorosis (cosmetic) at 2 mg/L. Skeletal fluorosis (bone damage) at 4 mg/L. Below 0.7 mg/L used for dental health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there fluoride in California water?
California has 20,579 public water systems. 12349 have recorded fluoride violations based on EPA SDWIS data. If you are on a private well, your water is not covered by these regulations and should be tested independently.
How can I check my California water for fluoride?
Search for your water system using the WaterCheck system lookup, or contact your utility and request a copy of your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The CCR is published annually and lists all detected contaminants, their levels, and the EPA MCLs. For private wells, contact a state-certified lab for independent testing.
What is the EPA limit for fluoride?
The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for fluoride is 4 mg/L. Systems that exceed MCLs are required to notify customers and take corrective action.
Fluoride at a Glance
Source
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive to promote dental health; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
How to Filter Fluoride
- +Reverse osmosis removes fluoride
- +Distillation removes fluoride
- +Standard carbon filters do NOT remove fluoride