R 325.10408a
R 325.10408a Special notice when fluoride level is above 2.0 mg/l.
Cite as Mich. Admin. Code R 325.10408a
Rule 408a. (1) Community water supplies that measure fluoride above 2.0 mg/l as
determined by the last single sample taken under R 325.10710, but do not exceed the
maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4.0 mg/l for fluoride under R 325.10604c, shall
provide the public notice in subrule (3) of this rule to persons served. Public notice shall
be provided as soon as practical but not later than that of a tier 3 public notice under R
325.10404(2) (a). A copy of the notice shall also be sent to all new billing units and new
customers under R 325.10406(1) and to the local health department. The department may,
on a case-by-case basis, in the best interest of health, safety, welfare, and the environment,
require an initial notice sooner than 12 months or applicable repeat notices more frequently
than annually, or both.
(2) The form and manner of the public notice, including repeat notices, shall follow the
requirements for a tier 3 public notice in R 325.10404(3), (4)(a), and (4)(c).
(3) The notice shall contain the following language, including the language necessary to
fill in the blanks: "This is an alert about your drinking water and a cosmetic dental problem
that might affect children under 9 years of age. At low levels, fluoride can help prevent
cavities, but children drinking water containing more than 2.0 milligrams per liter (mg/l)
of fluoride may develop cosmetic discoloration of their permanent teeth (dental fluorosis).
The drinking water provided by your community water system [name] has a fluoride
concentration of [insert value] mg/l.
Dental fluorosis, in its moderate or severe forms, may result in a brown staining and/or
pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth, before they
erupt from the gums. Children under 9 should be provided with alternative sources of
drinking water or water that has been treated to remove the fluoride to avoid the possibility
of staining and pitting of their permanent teeth. You may also want to contact your dentist
about proper use by young children of fluoride containing products. Older children and
adults may safely drink the water.
Drinking water containing more than 4.0 mg/l of fluoride (the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's drinking water standard) can increase your risk of developing bone
disease. Your drinking water does not contain more than 4.0 mg/l of fluoride, but we're
required to notify you when we discover that the fluoride levels in your drinking water
exceed 2.0 mg/l because of this cosmetic dental problem
For more information, please call [name of water system contact] of [name of community
water system] at [phone number]. Some home water treatment units are also available to
remove fluoride from drinking water. To learn more about available home water treatment
units, you may call NSF International at 1-877-8 NSF HELP."