Fluoride in Calgary's water
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Current status
We’re working on reintroducing fluoride into our drinking water, as per Council’s direction. Commissioning of newly installed equipment at Calgary’s two water treatment plants is currently underway and we’ll provide an update in early March on the implementation date.
Backed by experts. Supported by Calgarians
The City of Calgary will be adding fluoride to its drinking water as a safe and effective public health measure to prevent dental cavities and improve oral health.
Fluoride was first introduced into Calgary’s drinking water in 1991. Our drinking water remained fluoridated for 20 years until City Council directed Administration to discontinue the practice in 2011. The Council decision to reintroduce fluoride in the drinking water system was made one month after a plebiscite in the 2021 Civic General Election found 62 per cent support for fluoridation amongst voters.
Research consistently shows it’s safe at low levels and is a cost-effective way to improve dental health that benefits everyone in the community, especially those most vulnerable and without access to dental care.
Fluoride facts
Over 90 national and international governments and health organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), endorse the fluoridation of drinking water to prevent tooth decay.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is present in minerals, and therefore naturally found in water, air, soil and almost all foods.
Fluoridation won’t change the taste, smell or appearance of your drinking water.
Health Canada fluoride guidelines and safety
Health Canada, Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services support the practice of Community Water Fluoridation as a safe and effective public health measure to prevent and reduce tooth decay.
Health Canada’s Guidance on Community Water Fluoridation recommends optimal fluoride levels to be 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L). This level considers the fluoride that people are getting from other sources like fluoridated toothpaste or mouth rinse.
Due to the natural fluctuating levels in the Bow and Elbow Rivers (ranging from 0.1-0.4 mg/L), the new fluoridation systems at the treatment plants will adjust fluoride levels to maintain 0.7 mg/L in the drinking water.
The City is committed to ensuring drinking water is of high quality, safe to drink, reliable and available for Calgarians. Further public health information on fluoride can be found on the following links:
Questions about your drinking water?
For answers to common drinking water questions like water hardness, water taste, odour, appearance or water pressure, visit Drinking Water in Calgary.
Infrastructure upgrades
The reintroduction of fluoride into the water system required infrastructure upgrades at Calgary’s two water treatment plants. Existing infrastructure had reached the end of its lifecycle in 2011 and was removed following Council’s decision to stop fluoridation.
Capital upgrades started in September 2023 and included:
- A retrofit of an existing building at the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant and installing the new fluoride equipment.
- A new building at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant to house the fluoride equipment.
Costs:
The infrastructure costs to reintroduce fluoride at Calgary’s two water treatment plants was $28.1M with additional annual costs of $1M for operating and maintenance at both plants. This translates into less than 10 cents per person, per month.
This is funded through Council-approved water rates. There is no support from property taxes.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
General
Which municipalities in Alberta add fluoride to their drinking water?
Once fluoride is reintroduced, Calgary will join Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer and other Alberta municipalities that add fluoride to drinking water.
Is there fluoride in bottled water?
The amount of fluoride in bottled water depends on the source of the water and the bottling processes. We recommend checking with the manufacturer for specific details regarding the presence of fluoride in their bottled water.
Can I remove fluoride from my drinking water at home?
Fluoride can be removed from your drinking water at home using a specialized filtration system. Look for equipment certified to NSF/ANSI 58 (American National Standards Institute). More information can be found in the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines and the Government of Alberta website.
How does this impact regional customers who receive water from The City?
Water supplied to regional customers is the same water as provided within Calgary and will have fluoride added. The City of Calgary provides drinking water to The City of Chestermere, The City of Airdrie, The Town of Strathmore and portions of Foothills County, Rocky View County and Tsuut’ina Nation. Each municipality enters into a Master Servicing Agreement that governs the provision of the water to the municipal boundary. The Master Servicing Agreement places responsibility for water quality with The City of Calgary and its Council.
Health
The following health-related answers are provided by medical experts at Alberta Health Services, Health Canada or the Canadian Dental Association.
What do health agencies say about community water fluoridation?
“Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services recognize that community water fluoridation effectively prevents tooth decay, especially among people who are most vulnerable. It offers significant benefits with very low risk and reaches all residents who are connected to a municipal water supply. Therefore, Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services endorse community water fluoridation as a foundational public health measure to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health.”
Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services
“Community water fluoridation remains a safe, cost effective and equitable public health practice and an important tool in protecting and maintaining the health and well-being of Canadians.”
If fluoride is already naturally in the water, why do we need to add more?
According to Alberta Health Services, natural fluoride levels in the water supply are found in different concentrations, and when the concentration is below the recommended level it’s not effective in preventing tooth decay. Fluoride levels commonly found in water supplies are around 0.1 to 0.4 mg/L, which are too low to prevent cavities. Community water fluoridation is a public health initiative to adjust the concentration of fluoride in drinking water supplies to reach Health Canada’s target of 0.7 mg/L, that scientific research shows to provide optimal dental benefits.
Why do we need fluoride in our water if we use toothpaste?
According to Alberta Health Services, the concentration of fluoride in water supplies recommended by Health Canada takes into account fluoride intake from multiple sources. Getting fluoride from different sources provides the best protection from tooth decay. Brushing every day with fluoride toothpaste and drinking tap water with fluoride are great ways to prevent tooth decay. There are also other sources of fluoride, such as professionally applied fluoride therapies which add extra protection.
Are there any health risks associated with water fluoridation?
No. According to Health Canada, the optimal fluoride concentration level (0.7 mg/L), provides the optimal dental benefits while minimizing any health risk including dental fluorosis, which affects the look of the tooth with small white specks. The optimal level recommended also takes into consideration the fluoride that people are getting from other sources, like fluoridated toothpaste or mouth rinse.
Is drinking fluoridated water safe for my kids? I’ve heard that children exposed to higher fluoride levels have lower IQs.
According to Alberta Health Services, fluoridated drinking water at the recommended level (0.7 mg/l) is safe for children and adults.
The Canadian Dental Association closely monitors scientific developments and remains confident in the current consensus, which is based on evidence provided by quality research, that fluoridation at optimal levels poses no risk to cognitive health, including IQ.
What happened to cavity rates when fluoride was removed from drinking water in 2011?
After Calgary stopped fluoridating water in 2011, researchers at the University of Calgary conducted a study on tooth decay from a large sample of children in Calgary and Edmonton, where fluoridation started in 1967 and remains to date.
The research confirmed the removal of fluoride from drinking water had a negative impact on children’s oral health, where a significantly higher number of cavities were found amongst Calgary children compared to Edmonton children.
Is fluoridated water safe for my pets to drink?
Yes. According to Alberta Health Services, the recommended fluoride level in drinking water is safe for pets to drink.