Does a Home Water Treatment System Affect the Level of Fluoride in My Drinking Water?
The amount of fluoride you receive in your drinking water depends on the type of home water treatment system used. Steam distillation systems remove 100% of fluoride content. Reverse osmosis systems remove between 65% and 95% of the fluoride. On the other hand, water softeners and charcoal/carbon filters generally do not remove fluoride. One exception: some activated carbon filters contain activated alumina that may remove over 80% of the fluoride. If you use a home water treatment system, have your water tested at least annually to establish the fluoride level your family is receiving in the treated water. Testing is available through local and state public health departments as well as private laboratories. Also, check with the manufacturer of the product you purchased or read the information that came with the water treatment system to determine the product’s effects on fluoride in your home water.
