Fluoride in Maine Drinking Water
Maine has 6,141 public water systems. 3962 have recorded fluoride violations.
Total Systems
6,141
With Violations
3,962
EPA MCL
4
Population Served
922K
Fluoride in Maine: Key Facts
Total Water Systems
6,141
Systems with Violations
3,962
Lead Violations
32
Copper Violations
221
EPA Standard
4 mg/L
MCLG (goal): 4 mg/L
Water Systems with Violations in Maine
| System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| SHELBYS CAFE LLC | 150 | 1500 |
| MAINE BRAND MANUFACTURING | 80 | 1449 |
| ITTY-BITTY DINER | 84 | 1030 |
| BIRCH TREE MEADOWS MHP | 105 | 1017 |
| HOME INC & LEARNING CENTER | 36 | 897 |
| STANDISH BAPTIST CHURCH | 73 | 879 |
| WEST SHORE DEVELOPMENT | 50 | 875 |
| MILLIES | 58 | 861 |
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 Maine water?
Maine has 6,141 public water systems. 3962 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 Maine 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