Madison Utilities Halts Water Fluoridation Following Intense Debate

UPDATE:

Madison Utilities has officially ended fluoridation of the city's water supply, citing worker safety concerns and equipment corrosion at treatment facilities.

The decision, which took effect Monday after months of deliberation, has drawn criticism from residents worried about increased tooth decay , particularly in children.

According to data from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) comparing Blount and Jefferson counties, areas with less fluoridated water show significantly higher rates of tooth decay than those with standard fluoridation. Blount County, which is 18% fluoridated, experienced nearly 25% higher tooth decay rates than Jefferson County, which is almost entirely fluoridated.

Madison Utilities defended the decision, saying fluoride causes rust and corrosion in facilities where water is mixed with the chemical. Officials also expressed concerns about worker safety during the mixing process.

The change has angered parents who now expect to face additional costs for ensuring their children receive adequate fluoride protection.

"I don't know why we're refusing to continue to provide that service to people here in Madison," said Karla Greene, a local mother. "We're concerned about a lot of things. We're concerned about traffic. We're concerned about rezoning. We're concerned about, now, cutting fluoride in our water system."

Some parents suggested Madison should learn facility maintenance practices from nearby water treatment plants that successfully manage fluoridation.

Dr. Marcus Moss , a local pediatric dentist , warned the effects will be noticeable soon.

"Dental decay is the number one childhood disease, which already affects more children than asthma," Moss said. "The impact of that is more missed days from school. Madison has always [been] considered one the highest performing school districts in the state, in the country. And so, we may even start to see that that they start to drop in the rankings because kids are missing many more days in school."

With the change now in effect, Moss emphasized the importance of children avoiding acidic foods that can damage teeth, including processed foods, gummy vitamins, candy, sports drinks and juices.

Madison Utilities Water Manager David Moore was unavailable for comment.

ORIGINAL:

Madison Utilities will stop adding fluoride to the city's drinking water Monday, ending a practice that has been in place for decades but that has become a point of contention in many communities recently.

The utility company announced in April that it would permanently discontinue fluoride addition starting June 16, following a vote by the Madison Utilities Board on March 17.

Water Manager David Moore cited employee safety, equipment concerns and maintenance costs as primary reasons for the decision. The utility uses hydrofluorosilicic acid to fluoridate water, which Moore said poses risks to treatment plant workers and causes structural degradation of facilities.

"This decision was made in consideration of employee health and safety, structural degradation of treatment facilities, and the ongoing maintenance costs associated with the use of hydrofluorosilicic acid," Moore said in a statement to FOX54.

The change affects only artificially added fluoride. Natural fluoride levels present in Madison's water supply will remain unchanged.

Many local dentists have expressed strong opposition to the decision, warning of potential public health consequences .

"Other than asthma, tooth decay is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases that kids face," said Dr. Emily Anne Grisham of Alabama Pediatric Dental Associates . "By kindergarten, over 50 percent of kids will have already had a cavity."

Grisham warned that removing fluoride could increase cavity rates and create "a huge public health strain" on dental treatment facilities.

The decision drew significant public opposition during a May 13 hearing, where dozens of residents spoke against the fluoride removal. Most speakers expressed concerns about children's dental health and potential increases in dental care costs.

Madison Utilities followed Alabama law requirements by notifying the State Health Officer, State Fluoridation Coordinator and Local Health Department of the change.

Other utilities in the region have taken different approaches. Limestone County Water operates without fluoride in some areas while purchasing fluoridated water from Huntsville and Decatur for other parts of the county. Athens, Decatur and Huntsville utilities confirmed they have no plans to end fluoridation.

A City of Huntsville ordinance actually requires the addition of fluoride.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , water fluoridation prevents cavities and has contributed to dramatic declines in tooth decay since 1945. The CDC considers it one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century, with studies showing fluoridated water reduces cavities by about 25 percent across all age groups.