By John Geiger
About a decade ago, the ten Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) that are managed by The Woodlands Water Agency (WWA) voted not to add supplemental fluoride to our community’s drinking water. The reason? The natural level of fluoride already present in our water supply was deemed sufficient.
So, how much fluoride is in our water?
On average, the fluoride level in The Woodlands drinking water is 0.36 parts per million (ppm), with measured levels ranging from 0.23 to 0.65 ppm. This fluoride occurs naturally, primarily from the erosion of natural deposits—not from added chemicals.
What do federal health authorities recommend?
Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t mandate a minimum fluoride level in drinking water. Instead, it sets maximum safety limits and defers to public health experts on what levels are ideal for dental health. Here’s how it breaks down:
- EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL):
- 4.0 ppm – This is the legal limit. Exceeding this amount could pose health risks, such as skeletal fluorosis, a bone disease.
- EPA Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL):
- 2.0 ppm – A non-enforceable guideline to help avoid cosmetic effects, like mild dental fluorosis (white spots on teeth), especially in children.
- U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Recommended Level:
- 0.7 ppm – This is considered the optimal level for preventing tooth decay while minimizing the risk of fluorosis.
What does this mean for you?
Since The Woodlands’ water naturally contains approximately half of the USPHS’s optimal fluoride level, residents receive some of fluoride’s cavity-fighting benefits, though not as much as communities with supplemented levels. Families concerned about dental health may consider discussing fluoride toothpaste or mouth rinse options with their dentist, especially for young children.
For more details on The Woodlands’ drinking water, including fluoride levels and other water quality data, visit Water Quality Reports.
