Defluoridation of water supplies

Water supplies with fluoride concentrations exceeding MCL limits, must implement defluoridation units. Percolating heavily fluoridated water through bone char or activated alumina will remove fluorides. These medias can also be regenerated easily by backwashing with a mild caustic soda solution. Many towns find it easier to ignore slightly elevated levels rather than spending the money to build the defluoridation units. In the short run this may be a good idea, however, as time goes on, the cost of increased cases of dental fluorosis would have made the defluoridation unit a sound investment.