Monitoring Water for Fluoride With KETOS SHIELD

KETOS SHIELD allows for real-time monitoring of fluoride (plus 30+ other water testing parameters) while lowering up-front costs with our industry-leading $0-CAPEX subscription model.

As an award-winning smart water management solution, KETOS SHIELD provides real-time monitoring for fluoride and 30+ other water testing parameters (including inorganic materials, heavy metals, and environmental factors). Monitor via an interoperable, modular system that uploads your data to the cloud, allowing for secure 24/7 access to water data.

Why Monitor Water for Fluoride with KETOS

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral typically released from rocks into the environment, including existing water supplies. All water contains some amount of fluoride, but the levels that occur in nature are not high enough to prevent tooth decay. Community water fluoridation has been widely initiated across the country as a cost-effective way to deliver fluoride to entire communities, reducing tooth decay by 25%. In 2018, 73% of the US population had access to community water systems containing added fluoride; the goal is to have 77% of Americans accessing water with fluoride by 2030.

The maximum amount of allowable fluoride in drinking water supplies is 4.0 mg/L. The EPA also has a secondary standard of 2.0 mg/L (although this level is unenforceable). This is the level of fluoride explicitly recommended to protect children from tooth pitting/discoloration caused by too much fluoride exposure before the eruption of teeth. While the EPA does not require compliance, it requires notification sent to customers if the average water levels exceed their 2.0 mg/L standard.

As fluoride is a necessary part of public health and often delivered by municipal water systems, it’s essential to monitor for levels to protect constituents.

What are the Issues with Fluorides in Water?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is often added to drinking water supplies for its dental health benefits. However, excessive fluoride levels in water can lead to various concerns and challenges. Here are key issues associated with fluoride in water:

• Dental Health Effects: While fluoride at optimal levels helps prevent tooth decay and promotes dental health, excessive fluoride intake can lead to dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis manifests as white or brown stains on teeth and, in severe cases, may result in enamel erosion and pitting. This condition primarily affects children during tooth development and can have aesthetic and functional impacts on oral health.
• Health Risks: Chronic exposure to high levels of fluoride in drinking water can pose risks to human health. Fluoride toxicity may lead to skeletal fluorosis, a bone disease characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and skeletal deformities. Prolonged ingestion of elevated fluoride concentrations may also increase the risk of other health issues, including kidney damage, thyroid dysfunction, and neurological disorders.
• Environmental Concerns: Fluoride contamination in water sources can have adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems and wildlife. Elevated fluoride levels may disrupt aquatic organisms’ physiology, reproduction, and behavior, leading to reduced biodiversity and ecological imbalance. Pollution from industrial discharges, mining activities, and agricultural runoff can contribute to fluoride pollution in water bodies.
• Regulatory Compliance: Governments and regulatory agencies establish guidelines and standards for fluoride levels in drinking water to protect public health. Compliance with these regulations poses challenges for water utilities and municipalities, particularly in areas with naturally occurring fluoride or anthropogenic sources of contamination. Ensuring consistent fluoride levels within acceptable limits requires effective monitoring and treatment strategies.
• Community Concerns: Fluoride in drinking water is a subject of public debate and concern in some communities. Opponents of water fluoridation argue against mass medication and express concerns about potential health risks and ethical considerations. Balancing the benefits of fluoride in promoting dental health with community preferences and individual rights requires careful consideration and public engagement.
• Treatment Considerations: Removing fluoride from water sources can be challenging and may require specialized treatment technologies. Conventional water treatment methods such as coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration are generally ineffective for fluoride removal. Advanced treatment options such as activated alumina adsorption, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis may be necessary to reduce fluoride concentrations to acceptable levels.

Causes of Fluoride in Water

Fluoride in water can stem from both natural occurrences and human activities. Naturally, fluoride is present in varying concentrations in soil and rocks, particularly in regions with high levels of fluoride-containing minerals such as fluorite and apatite. As water passes through these geological formations, it can dissolve fluoride, leading to its presence in groundwater and surface water sources. Additionally, human activities contribute to fluoride in water, primarily through the use of fluoride-containing compounds in industrial processes, agricultural practices, and domestic sources like toothpaste and mouthwash. Fluoride is often added to public water supplies as a public health measure to prevent tooth decay, further augmenting its presence in drinking water. However, improper disposal of industrial waste and runoff from agricultural areas can lead to elevated fluoride levels in water bodies, posing risks to both human health and the environment.

Acceptable Levels of Fluoride in Water by Industry

In the regulation of fluoride levels in water, various industries adhere to specific acceptable thresholds to ensure both safety and efficacy in their processes. These standards, often dictated by governmental agencies or industry-specific organizations, are essential in safeguarding public health and maintaining the integrity of industrial practices. For instance, the acceptable fluoride levels in water for industries such as pharmaceuticals, food processing, and semiconductor manufacturing might vary based on the sensitivity of their operations and potential impacts on products and consumers. By implementing these guidelines, industries can mitigate potential risks associated with fluoride exposure while maintaining the quality and safety of their products.

How to Easily Monitor Water for Fluoride

Need to test fluoirde in water? Instead of measuring fluoride with a meter that only measures a handful of conditions; the KETOS SHIELD is capable of mentoring dozens of water related issues — in real-time. Don’t just stop at fluoride. KETOS enables organizations to choose from a variety of water testing parameters to customize their testing to their organizational requirements.

Extend your water testing beyond fluoride with KETOS. Empowering organizations to tailor their testing, KETOS offers a range of water testing parameters for customization. From heavy metals to microbial contaminants, select parameters aligning with organizational needs for comprehensive water quality assurance and regulatory compliance.

Whether you’re assessing fluoride levels in municipal water supplies, measuring the Langelier Saturation Index in industrial cooling water, or detecting free chlorine in wastewater treatment, KETOS’ automated water monitoring system offers efficient solutions. Save time and mitigate compliance issues with our advanced technology.