Matt Larimer, March 11th 2026

According to sources, several individuals in southern Vigo County have discovered fluoride levels in their wells that are ten times the recommended level, and almost five times the safe limits set by the National Institute of Health.

The NIH website also states that, “The U.S. Public Health Service currently recommends 0.7 mg/L, and the World Health Organization has set a safe limit for fluoride in drinking water of 1.5 mg/L.”

Tests run by the Indiana State Department of Health and sent to THVN showed fluoride levels of 7.0 mg/L in multiple wells located in south eastern portions of Vigo County.

Tracy Branam, a research geologist and geochemist with the Indiana Geological and Water survey, shared with THVN that during his research he has found high levels of fluoride in deep wells in multiple southern Indiana counties including Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, and Greene.

Overexposure to fluoride has been known to cause dental and skeletal fluorosis. According to the Cleveland Clinic dental fluorosis is primarily a cosmetic concern that usually doesn’t affect your health or tooth function.

Skeletal fluorosis, however, affects your bones and joints. It can have a negative impact on your overall health, resulting in osteoporosis,  arthritis and chronic joint pain, and happens when you have chronic fluoride overexposure for many years.

A study conducted by the National Toxicology Program in 2016 also found that, ” higher levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter, are associated with lower IQ in children.”

According to the Indiana Department of health “well owners are responsible for their own safety when drinking from a private water source.” And they recommend testing your water annually.