How to Test Drinking Water for Fluoride Content

Water fluoridation is the process of adding fluoride to drinking water. Fluoride is a chemical that is used by dentists in preventing tooth decay. Fluoride is added to drinking water at water processing plants in an effort to reduce cases of tooth decay. The safe range of fluoride in water is anywhere between 0.7 and 1.2 parts per million. Testing your water for fluoride levels ensures that the amount of fluoride in the water is at a safe level.

Things You'll Need

• Fluoride test kit

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Instructions

• 1

  Fill the provided beaker halfway with the water sample. It should be at least 10 ml of water.

• 2

  Place 20 drops of the provided hydrochloric acid into the water sample.

• 3

  Remove a fluoride test disc from the provided bag. Close the bag immediately after the fluoride disc is removed.

• 4

  Use the provided needle to pierce a small hole through the center of the fluoride test disc.

• 5

  Place the fluoride test disc into the sample of water. Submerge the test disc completely in the water.

• 6

  Wait five minutes until the fluoride test disc has absorbed the maximum amount of liquid.

• 7

  Remove the fluoride test disc from the water sample.

• 8

  Note the color of the fluoride test disc. No color change of the fluoride test disc indicates that the sample of water is free of fluoride. A water sample with a fluoride content that is out of the safe range will produce a red ring on the fluoride test disc. Larger rings indicate higher levels of fluoride in the sample.