Fluoride in Illinois Drinking Water
Illinois has 26,675 public water systems. 6737 have recorded fluoride violations.
Total Systems
26,675
With Violations
6,737
EPA MCL
4
Population Served
12.6M
Fluoride in Illinois: Key Facts
Total Water Systems
26,675
Systems with Violations
6,737
Lead Violations
91
Copper Violations
465
EPA Standard
4 mg/L
MCLG (goal): 4 mg/L
Water Systems with Violations in Illinois
| System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| SKYVIEW ESTATES | 56 | 7512 |
| STURM SBDV | 54 | 6146 |
| WINDMILL ESTATES | 65 | 5042 |
| CARMEL MONTESSORI ACADEMY | 40 | 4386 |
| MARY SEARS ACADEMY LEMONT | 115 | 3915 |
| CRISWELL COURT MHP | 94 | 3770 |
| IATREIA MENTAL HEALTH | 70 | 3665 |
| TREASURE ISLAND MHP | 240 | 3443 |
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 Illinois water?
Illinois has 26,675 public water systems. 6737 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 Illinois 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