Fluoride Action Network

State Fluoride Database

Read the latest fluoride news from your state; find out if your town is fluoridated, see if any communities have recently rejected fluoridation, learn if your state has a law that mandates fluoridation, and other fluoride-related information.

Alabama

WATER FLUORIDATION STATUS:

  • PERCENT OF PEOPLE SERVED BY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE FLUORIDATED:
    2018: 78.0% – ranked #24 among the states (100% fluoridated is ranked #1)
    2016: 78.0%
    2014: 78.6%
    2012: 78.4%
    2006: 82.9%
    2000: 89.2%
    1992: 82.6%
  • To see if your town is fluoridated, click here.
  • To learn when your town was fluoridated, and which fluoridation chemical it uses, click here.

LATEST NEWS:

  • To see the latest news on fluoride developments in Alabama, click here.
  • To see an updated list of Alabama professionals calling for an end to fluoridation, click here.

ALABAMA FLUORIDE DATA FOR EACH WATER SYSTEM

• 2020: Levels of Fluoride in the State’s Drinking Water and Fluoridation Status. 10 Public Water Systems with fluoride levels over 0.71 ppm.

It is illegal for any Public Water System to deliver drinking water with fluoride concentrations higher than 2.0 ppm, which is still exceedingly high. Water departments deal with this issue by using filter systems to reduce the high levels of fluoride, in some cases blending with water supplies that have lower levels, or the abandonment of the water supply.

To find out the fluoride levels in your drinking water, contact your local water department. You can also go online to CDC’s My Water’s Fluoride.

1969 Natural Fluoride Content of Community Water Supplies – Online here

“A survey to determine the number and location of community water supplies contain­ing dentally significant concentrations of naturally occurring fluorides was made in early 1969 by the State Dental Directors at the request of the U.S. Public Health Service. This publication presents the results of this survey and serves to update a similar document published in 1959.1 The 1959 publication included all communities reporting at least one water source with a natural fluoride concentration of 0. 7 parts per million (ppm) 2 or higher. This publication differs in that it lists all communities whose water supplies were reported to have a natural fluoride concentration of 0. 7 ppm or more regardless of the concentration of the various sources of water. This sur­vey attempted to identify public water systems in the United States which naturally contain the minimum fluoride concentration recommended by the Public Health Serv­ice as optimal for protection against dental caries.
“The optimum concentration of fluorides in community water supplies depends upon the annual average of maximum daily air temperatures in the individual community . According to Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards, 1962, the recommended concentrations are shown in Table 1…”

Alabama’s FLUORIDATION LAW:

  • The State of Alabama does not mandate fluoridation, or have any statutes regulating the additive.  The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) is the regulatory agency, which provides monitoring, guidance, technical assistance, and promotion of fluoridation.  Local governments control fluoridation policy in AL.  City councils can begin or discontinue fluoridation at their discretion, or by a referendum vote.  If a community began fluoridation with a referendum vote, then they must also hold a referendum to discontinue the practice.  Every community’s fluoridation ordinance is unique.  To learn more about these fluoridation ordinances, click here.

DATA ON ORAL HEALTH:

FAN’S STATE COORDINATOR IN ALABAMA:

If you live in AL and want to get the fluoride out of your water contact Stuart Cooper, FAN’s campaign coordinator.

ALABAMA COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE REJECTED FLUORIDATION:

Community Population Date
Grant and other towns with North Marshall Utilities 4,200 November 6, 2017
Piedmont 5,000 May 16, 2017
Arab, Marshall County 8,400 December 23, 2016
Winfield Water Works 2013
Ceased due to cost
Red Bay 3,177 September 15, 2010
Leeds Water Works Board 2009
Ceased due to shortage of fluoridation chemical
Oneonta Utilities Board 2007
Ceased due to shortage of fluoridation chemical
Taylor Water System 2007
Ceased due to cost
West Morgan 2006

Oxford Water Works

— Also see this article

 21,000 2005
Ceased due to costs
Columbiana 4,259 May 2003

Alabama Water Systems with High Fluoride Levels:

Water System County Population Size Fluoride Level (ppm)
Linden Marengo 3,344 3.6
South Marengo Marengo 1,983 3.6
Pine Apple Wilcox 426 1.9
Sellers Station Montgomery 1,500 2.2
Information from CDC’s Fluoridation Census published in 1993.

Fluoride Pollution Sources in Alabama:

In 2008, Alabama ranked 5th out of 48 states for Hydrogen fluoride emissions (3,180,753 pounds) and was the top emitter of Fluorine emissions (37,994 pounds) into the environment. In 2010, Alabama industries emitted 1,368,29 pounds of Hydrogen Fluoride and 16,354 pounds of Fluorine. The following data comes from EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) for Hydrogen Fluoride and Fluorine releases. “Total releases” includes both water and air pollution. It’s important to note, however, that not all industries or sources that release fluoride into the environment are included in the TRI.

Toxic Release Inventory for Hydrogen Fluoride
(in pounds)

Rank = compared to all 790 facilities in the U.S. for release of HF in 2014

Rank in 2014 Facility 2014
All
Releases
2013
All Releases
2012
All Releases

 

35

US TVA COLBERT FOSSIL PLANT.900 COLBERT STEAM PLANT RD, TUSCUMBIA ALABAMA 35674 (COLBERT) 160,000  130,000  170,000
50 GREENE COUNTY STEAM PLANT.HWY 43 & COUNTY RD 18, FORKLAND ALABAMA 36740 (GREENE) 120,000  120,000 120,000
51 GASTON STEAM PLANT.HWY 25, WILSONVILLE ALABAMA 35186 (SHELBY) 120,000 130,000  220,000
76 BARRY STEAM PLANT.US HWY 43, BUCKS ALABAMA 36512 (MOBILE) 84,000 100,000  85,000
96 CARBO CERAMICS INC-EUFAULA FACILITY.36 ARCH DR, EUFAULA ALABAMA 36027 (BARBOUR) 68,077 76,081  34,993
103 BORAL BRICKS INC PHENIX CITY PLANT 4.1501 BRICKYARD RD, PHENIX CITY ALABAMA 36869 (RUSSELL) 63,938 59,648  41,036
126 ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS OPERATIONS LLC-DECATUR PLANT.1050 CHEMSTRAND AVE, DECATUR ALABAMA 35601 (MORGAN) 50,465  51,389  49,555
192 MILLER STEAM PLANT.4250 PORTER RD, QUINTON ALABAMA 35130 (JEFFERSON) 31,000  50,000  49,000
290 GORGAS STEAM PLANT.460 GORGAS RD, PARRISH ALABAMA 35580 (WALKER) 14,000  16,000  20,000
319 PRINCE MINERALS LLC.100 PEMCO DR, LEESBURG ALABAMA 35983 (CHEROKEE) 10,920  9,660  8,160
321 MONARCH CERAMIC TILE INC.834 RICKWOOD RD, FLORENCE ALABAMA 35630 (LAUDERDALE) 10,880  25,369  56,701
333 US TVA WIDOWS CREEK FOSSIL PLANT.2800 STEAM PLANT RD, STEVENSON ALABAMA 35772 (JACKSON) 9,700 19,000  22,000
359 CHARLES R LOWMAN POWER PLANT.4392 CARSON RD, LEROY ALABAMA 36548 (WASHINGTON) 7,300  5,500  5,400
441 OUTOKUMPU STAINLESS USA LLC.1 THYSSENKRUPP DR, CALVERT ALABAMA 36513 (MOBILE) 2,625  2,417 2,669
469 MDA MANUFACTURING INC.905 STATE DOCKS RD, DECATUR ALABAMA 35601 (MORGAN) 1,751 1,897 1,734
484 ACME BRICK CO-MONTGOMERY BRICK PLANT.1228 N MCDONOUGH ST, MONTGOMERY ALABAMA 36104 (MONTGOMERY) 1,266  891 1,891
525 DAIKIN AMERICA INC.905 STATE DOCKS RD, DECATUR ALABAMA 35601 (MORGAN) 601  906  594
549 BORAL BRICKS INC – BESSEMER PLANT 6.8250 HOPEWELL RD, BESSEMER ALABAMA 35022 (JEFFERSON) 435  435  NA
599 HENRY BRICK CO.3409 WATER AVE, SELMA ALABAMA 36701 (DALLAS) 187  171  169
617 MITSUBISHI POLYCRYSTALLINE SILICON AMERICA CORP.7800 MITSUBISHI LN, THEODORE ALABAMA 36582 (MOBILE) 139 139  146
712 ATI HUNTSVILLE OPERATIONS.7400 HWY 20 W, HUNTSVILLE ALABAMA 35806 (MADISON) 4  4  4
463 WISE ALLOYS LLC – ALLOYS PLANT.4805 SECOND ST, MUSCLE SHOALS ALABAMA 35661 (COLBERT) 1,788  3,904 827
ALABAMA TOTAL: 759,076 803,411 889,879

Toxic Release Inventory for Hydrogen Fluoride
2008 & 2010

2010
Releases
(in pounds)
2008
Releases
(in pounds)                      
Type of Industry                              Name of Industry                             
260,000 660,000 Coal-fired power plant GASTON STEAM PLANT. HWY 25, WILSONVILLE, Alabama 35186 (SHELBY)
220,000 600,000 Coal-fired power plant MILLER STEAM PLANT. 4250 PORTER RD, QUINTON, Alabama 35130 (JEFFERSON)
170,000 470,000 Coal-fired power plant BARRY STEAM PLANT. US HWY 43, BUCKS, Alabama 36512 (MOBILE)
340,000 460,000 Coal-fired power plant US TVA COLBERT FOSSIL PLANT. 900 COLBERT STEAM PLANT RD, TUSCUMBIA, Alabama 35674 (COLBERT)
61,000 280,000 Coal-fired power plant US TVA WIDOWS CREEK FOSSIL PLANT. 2800 STEAM PLANT RD, STEVENSON, Alabama 35772 (JACKSON)
140,000 200,000 Coal-fired power plant ALABAMA POWER CO GREENE COUNTY STEAM PLANT. HWY 43 & COUNTY RD 18, FORKLAND, Alabama 36740 (GREENE)
NA 113,192 Stone/Clay/Glass BORAL BRICKS INC – BESSEMER PLANT 6. HOPEWELL RD, BESSEMER, Alabama 35021 (JEFFERSON)
47,000 90,000 Coal-fired power plant GORGAS STEAM PLANT. 460 GORGAS RD, PARRISH, Alabama 35580 (WALKER)
59,917 53,960 Stone/Clay/Glass MONARCH CERAMIC TILE INC. 834 RICKWOOD RD, FLORENCE, Alabama 35630 (LAUDERDALE)
 45,194 42,272 Chemicals ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS LLC – DECATUR PLANT. 1050 CHEMSTRAND AVE, DECATUR, Alabama 35601 (MORGAN)
40,010 Stone/Clay/Glass BORAL BRICKS INC PHENIX CITY PLANT 4. 1501 BRICKYARD RD, PHENIX CITY, Alabama 36869 (RUSSELL)
38,686 Stone/Clay/Glass BORAL BRICKS INC BESSEMER PLANT 5. VULCAN RD, BESSEMER, Alabama 35022 (JEFFERSON)
38,000 Coal-fired power plant GADSDEN STEAM PLANT. 1000 GOODYEAR AVE, GADSDEN, Alabama 35903 (ETOWAH)
16,354 37,994               FLUORINE RELEASES                              WISE ALLOYS LLC – ALLOYS PLANT. 4805 SECOND ST, MUSCLE SHOALS, Alabama 35661 (COLBERT)
28,467 Stone/Clay/Glass DAL-TILE CORP FAYETTE PLANT. 1470 COUNTY RD 21 S, FAYETTE, Alabama 35555 (FAYETTE)
28,333 Paper ABITIBIBOWATER INC COOSA PINES OPERATIONS. 17589 PLANT RD, COOSA PINES, Alabama 35044 (TALLADEGA)
11,000 27,000 Coal-fired power plant CHARLES R LOWMAN POWER PLANT. 4392 CARSON RD, LEROY, Alabama 36548 (WASHINGTON)
7,800 7,800 Chemicals PEMCO. 100 PEMCO DR, LEESBURG, Alabama 35983 (CHEROKEE)
2,031 Stone/Clay/Glass JENKINS BRICK MONTGOMERY BRICK PLANT. 1228 N MCDONOUGH ST, MONTGOMERY ALABAMA 36104 (MONTGOMERY)
1,743 1,664 Chemicals MDA MANUFACTURING INC. 905 STATE DOCKS RD, DECATUR, Alabama 35601 (MORGAN)
1,000 Iron and Steel Mills THYSSENKRUPP STAINLESS USA LLC. 1 THYSSENKRUPP DR, CALVERT ALABAMA 36513 (MOBILE)
546 547 Chemicals DAIKIN AMERICA INC. 905 STATE DOCKS RD, DECATUR, Alabama 35601 (MORGAN)
784 434 Aluminum Sheet, Plate, and Foil Manufacturing WISE ALLOYS LLC – ALLOYS PLANT. 4805 SECOND ST, MUSCLE SHOALS, Alabama 35661 (COLBERT)
(See also above under FLUORINE RELEASES)
155 233 Stone/Clay/Glass HENRY BRICK CO. 3409 WATER AVE, SELMA, Alabama 36701 (DALLAS)
118 151 Primary Metals MITSUBISHI POLYCRYSTALLINE SILICON AMERICAN CORP. 7800 MITSUBISHI LN, THEODORE, Alabama 36582 (MOBILE)
4 4 Primary Metals WAH CHANG ALABAMA. 7400 HWY 20 W, HUNTSVILLE, Alabama 35806 (MADISON)

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