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 the reintroduction of fluoride is expected later in the second quarter of 2025. Once we have a confirmed reintroduction date we will provide an update four weeks in advance.

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.

Get more facts from Health Canada

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

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Health

The following health-related answers are provided by medical experts at Alberta Health Services, Health Canada or the Canadian Dental Association.

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What is Calgary’s fluoridation history?

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1957-1971 Calgarians vote against adding fluoride to its drinking water four times in 1957, 1961, 1966 and 1971.

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1989-1991 In a 1989 plebiscite, Calgarians voted in favour of adding fluoride to the city's drinking water. By 1991, fluoride was being added to Calgary's drinking water at a target of 1.0 mg/L.

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1998-1999 In 1998, The City and Alberta Health Services reviewed water fluoridation as a public policy, and a panel of five experts recommended a reduction in the level of fluoride to 0.7 mg/L. This change was adopted in 1999 following a second plebiscite where 55 per cent of Calgarians again voted in favour of fluoridation.

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2011 The City of Calgary discontinued the addition of fluoride to Calgary's drinking water as directed by Council on May 19, 2011.

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2021 As part of the 2021 General Election, 62 per cent of electors voted in favour of reintroducing fluoridation of the municipal water supply. On November 15, 2021, Council directed Administration to implement water fluoridation of the drinking water system.

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