Standards and Regulations Related to Fluoride in Drinking Water
Water fluoridation is the practice of adjusting the fluoride content of drinking water. Fluoride is added to water for the public health benefit of greatly reducing the incidence of tooth decay and therefore improving the health of the community.
NSF certifies three products in the fluoridation category:
- 1
Fluorosilicic acid (aka fluosilicic acid or hydrofluosilicic acid)
- 2
Sodium fluorosilicate (aka sodium silicofluoride)
- 3
Sodium fluoride
All three products readily dissociate in water to release fluoride and related ions. In the case of the fluorosilicates, they fully dissociate to fluoride and silicate ions in association with either hydrogen or sodium ions1. In the case of sodium fluoride, it fully dissociates to form fluoride and sodium ions.
Treatment products that are used for fluoridation are specifically addressed in Section 7 of NSF/ANSI/CAN 60. The standard requires that the treatment products added to drinking water, as well as any impurities in the products, are supported by an evaluation of potential health effects resulting from exposure to the products or associated contaminants.
How NSF Can Help You
What’s New with NSF
iNADO Partners with NSF to Support Members and Athletes
May 27, 2026iNADO is pleased to welcome NSF’s expertise and experience in support of its members and the athletes they serve
NSF Ends UK’s Three-Year Testing Gap with REG 31 Testing Designation
May 20, 2026NSF’s Oakdale laboratory becomes the UK’s sole facility offering comprehensive BS 6920 and REG 31 testing, closing a critical drinking water safety gap.
Tangent® Materials Announces Industry First: Tangent PolySheet™ CB Earns Certification to NSF 537, Becoming the First PFAS-Free NSF Standard 51 Food Equipment Material
May 20, 2026New food-grade synthetic cutting-board sheet, engineered from the ground up without per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), establishes a new materialsafety benchmark for food-contact and food-equipment applications.
NSF Expands Food Equipment Portfolio with Electrical Safety Testing and Certification
April 30, 2026Manufacturers now have a “one-stop-shop” for both sanitation and electrical safety certification, enabling market expansion and regulatory compliance.