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Here are answers to frequently asked questions about fluoride in drinking water: Q. What is fluoride? It is a naturally occurring compound derived from fluorine, an abundant element in surface water (lakes, rivers & oceans) and groundwater (water from rain that soaks through the soil and into an underground reservoir) Q. What are the benefits of fluoride? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the fluoridation of community drinking water is the most cost effective and safe way to reduce and control tooth decay. More than 50 years of scientific research has led to the conclusion that people who live in communities with fluoridated water have healthier teeth and fewer cavities than those living where water is not fluoridated. Q. How much fluoride will MWD add to Pasadena's community drinking water? MWD's water naturally has 0.1 to 0.4 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride, and they want to increase that amount to 0.7 to 0.8 ppm. Since Pasadena's groundwater has a naturally higher fluoride level of 0.8 to 1.4 ppm, the resulting new concentration will be 0.7 to 1.2 ppm in our community drinking water. Q. How is "parts per million" defined? To put it simply, if there are a million "parts" - teaspoons, for example - then 1 part per million equals 1 teaspoon of a substance mixed in with one million teaspoons of water. Q. What if I don't want to drink fluoridated water? Home water treatment units that use reverse osmosis membrane filters can effectively remove fluoride from tap water. Most bottled water does not contain fluoride; check the label to be sure. Click here for more FAQ's provided by MWD* or for more information call the PWP AnswerLine at (626) 744-6970.
* Portable
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