ASHEVILLE, N.C. Asheville has lowered the amount of fluoride in its water system in response to concerns about how excess levels of the substance can affect people's teeth. The Asheville Citizen-Times reported the city has reduced the fluoride in its system by 30 percent. The change affects about 125,000 people in the Asheville area. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to lower the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water for the first time in nearly 50 years. Recent studies show too much fluoride can cause tooth streaking or splotches and in rare cases can lead to more serious problems.