EPA SDWIS DataPennsylvania

Fluoride in Pennsylvania Drinking Water

Pennsylvania has 22,622 public water systems. 19019 have recorded fluoride violations.

Total Systems

22,622

With Violations

19,019

EPA MCL

4

Population Served

12.6M

Fluoride in Pennsylvania: Key Facts

Total Water Systems

22,622

Systems with Violations

19,019

Lead Violations

1,206

Copper Violations

970

EPA Standard

4 mg/L

MCLG (goal): 4 mg/L

Water Systems with Violations in Pennsylvania

SystemPopulationViolations
CONGREGATION OHR MENACHEM309908
STOCKTON WATER SYSTEM857105
SALEM HEIGHTS ESTATE626572
SCOTT MOBILE HOME PARK645814
PA AMERICAN AUDUBON8K5456
AQUA PA SUN VALLEY1204752
GAHAGEN WATER ASSN494465
LYON HILLS HOA753749

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 Pennsylvania water?

Pennsylvania has 22,622 public water systems. 19019 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 Pennsylvania 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

Categoryinorganic
EPA MCL4 mg/L

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