Time to Check Community Water Reports for Fluoride Levels

Time to Check Community Water Reports for Fluoride Levels

Summer is not only the season of fun and sun, but it is also the time when communities release their annual water quality reports or consumer confidence reports, which provide data on the amount of fluoride present in local water supplies.

As mandated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each July water providers issue a detailed report on the status of community water supplies. The data, a compilation of hundreds of water samples, report any traceable substances found, with the goal of ensuring that water sources meet state and federal standards for safe consumption.

Oral health care professionals are encouraged to review these reports to determine the level of fluoride present in their local water supplies. This information should be considered when making clinical recommendations for the use of fluoride products and supplements, and it may also be helpful in addressing possible patient concerns about fluoride’s safety.

For information about local community water quality reports, call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791, or visit http://water.epa.gov/drink/.