What is the fluoride level in Mount Pleasant water?
The Commission maintains fluoride levels between 0.7 and 1.2 mg/L (milligrams per liter) = ppm (parts per million).

Why do we need fluoride in the water at all?
- If consumed at these levels during childhood (between birth and 9 years of age), fluoride prevents dental caries.
- Fluoride is found naturally in our source water. The treatment process leaves a small amount (under 1.0 mg/L) in the finished water.
- Charleston Commissioners of Public Works (CCPW), who supplies MPW with supplemental drinking water, adds fluoride to their water at the same optimum levels (between 0.7 and 1.2 mg/L).

How much fluoride is too much?
Fluoride in concentrations over 3.0 mg/L (or ppm) can cause dental fluorosis, a discoloration in the tooth enamel. This spotty or patchy appearance, called mottling, can cause the affected enamel to be lighter or darker than the surrounding enamel. This occurs in nursing infants, while teeth are developing, and in children younger than eight years old.

Isn't there a law that regulates fluoride levels in drinking water?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state health departments each monitor fluoride and other elements in public water systems. These agencies enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) standards, a very strict set of rules that regulate the quality of all public drinking water.