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Water Fluoridation: Facts and Information for Cal Water Customers
January 2008
Background
Fluoride, one of the most plentiful elements on earth, occurs naturally in water supplies. Water fluoridation is the addition of small amounts of fluoride to a water supply to achieve the fluoride level recommended by the California Department of Public Health (DPH) to prevent tooth decay.
California’s fluoridated drinking water act, Assembly Bill 733, became law in 1995, requiring water systems with 10,000 or more service connections to fluoridate their water supply when funding becomes available. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) has joined many of the nation’s public water suppliers in adding fluoride to its water supply. MWD began providing fluoridated water to Cal Water’s service areas in November 2007.
Facts on Fluoridation
- Most sources of drinking water naturally contains some fluoride. Community water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the naturally occurring fluoride level to the level recommended by DPH to prevent tooth decay.
- Seventy percent of the U.S. population lives in communities served by fluoridated water supplies.
- Fluoridation will not change the taste, odor, or appearance of your water.
Recommended Level of Fluoridation
MWD, a wholesale water provider to California Water Service Company (Cal Water), supplements naturally occurring fluoride to reach 0.8 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of water, the level public health organizations deem optimum for preventing tooth decay. This level is well below the limits set by DPH and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to protect public health.
Fluoridation for Cal Water Customers
Cal Water meets its customers’ needs in Westlake Village/Thousand Oaks, Torrance’s Hollywood Riviera, and on the Palos Verdes Peninsula by purchasing imported water from MWD. Because these service areas receive their entire supply from MWD, the water delivered to these customers will have fluoride levels of 0.8 mg/L.
Because Cal Water blends the water it purchases from MWD with its local water sources in Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, West Torrance, Carson/South Bay, Hawthorne, East Los Angeles, Commerce, and Montebello, the water delivered to these customers may contain fluoride levels below 0.8 mg/L. In some areas, the fluoride level may be as low as 0.1 mg/L. Also, because these customers’ water is a combination of local groundwater and imported water from MWD, fluoride levels in the water may not be constant throughout the year. Seasonal changes in water use, operation of local wells, and other variables can affect the water supply mix and level of fluoride in the water.
Cal Water currently does not plan to fluoridate its local water sources. In accordance with Assembly Bill 733, Cal Water will fluoridate its local water supply if federal grants or outside funds become available.
Cal Water will initiate distribution system monitoring in all of its affected water systems to report fluoride levels to DPH. Monitoring data will be available at www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/drinkingwater/Pages/Fluoridation.aspx.
Fluoridation Safety
Community water fluoridation is endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General. Community water fluoridation also is endorsed by numerous public health and professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, DPH, and World Health Organization.
Dietary Fluoride Supplements
According to DPH, children’s fluoride supplements, whether pills or drops, should be discontinued when the drinking water is fluoridated. For customers who receive water from a combination of local water sources and imported MWD water, the continued use of topical fluoride treatments by the child’s dentist may still be recommended. Please consult with your child’s dentist regarding proper dental care.
More Information
Additional information is available for certain districts:
For the most up-to-date fluoridation schedule or for more information on fluoridation, contact your local Cal Water Customer Center:
East Los Angeles District (East Los Angeles, Commerce, and Montebello)
(323) 722-8601
infoELA@calwater.com
Rancho Dominguez District (West Torrance, Carson/South Bay, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance’s Hollywood Riviera, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula)
(310) 257-1400
infoRD@calwater.com
Westlake District (Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks)
(805) 497-2757
infoWLK@calwater.com
Or, visit MWD online at http://www.mwdh2o.com/fluoridation/index.html. You may also contact MWD at (213) 217-6850.
Additional Resources on Water Fluoridation
American Dental Association
www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/news.asp
California Department of Public Health
www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/drinkingwater/Pages/Fluoridation.aspx
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/oralhealth and www.cdc.gov/fluoridation
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