LEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - A Notice of Violation has been issued in Lee County as of Wednesday, April 8, after the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) discovered that Lee County Utilities Authority Water System exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for fluoride, according to a release from the Lee County Board of Commissioners.

Fluoride is defined as “a form of the element fluorine that helps prevent tooth decay. Fluoride may be naturally present in drinking water or may be added to it,” according to the National Cancer Institute.

The Yale School of Public Health says the following regarding the risks of exposure to high amounts of fluoride:

“Prolonged exposure to high levels of fluoride can damage teeth and bones, and recent evidence suggests that moderate levels of fluoride may be linked to lower IQ in children.”

According to the release from the Lee County Board of Commissioners, the maximum contaminant level for fluoride is 4.0 mg/L, based on a Running Annual Average (RAA) for the sample results over four quarters.

Fluoride levels in Lee County reportedly reached 7.2 mg/L in the first quarter of 2026, resulting in the violation.

“The Lee County Utilities Authority Water System exceeded the MCL for Fluoride at entry point 310 during the first quarter of 2026 (01/01/2026-03/31/2026) with a RZZ of 7.2 mg/L.”

To address the issue, a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) has been implemented, the board said.

The Environmental Protection Division has reviewed that “may prove effective” in addressing the issue.

The release concluded by stating the following regarding the Lee County Utilities Authority Water System:

“The approved CAP consists of moving the sampling point further downstream from the chemical feed injection point and adjusting the chemical feed rate, which was completed on September 19, 2025. Please note that the new sampling point must meet the definition of “entry point” according to the Georgia Rules of Safe Drinking Water. The entry point is defined as a sample location anywhere on the finished water line after treatment, up to and including the first service or customer tap."

You can find the full release from the Lee County Board of Commissioners here.

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