JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced today that 19 Missouri public water systems have been awarded a Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to a level that is effective for preventing tooth decay.

The award recognizes communities that achieved excellence in community water fluoridation by maintaining a consistent level of fluoride in drinking water throughout 2016. Those communities are as follows:

  • Jefferson County Public Water Supply District #5
  • Jefferson County Public Water Supply District #7
  • Hannibal Board of Public Works
  • Glasgow Public Water District
  • Eureka Public Works Water Department
  • Public Water District #1 of Stoddard County
  • Cole County Public Water Supply District #4
  • City of Kahoka
  • Consolidated Public Water Supply
  • Liberty Water Treatment Plant
  • Chillicothe Public Water Supply District #3
  • Brookfield Public Water Supply District #3
  • Linn-Livingston Public Water Supply District #3
  • Nixa Water District
  • Park Hills Public Water Supply District
  • Perryville Water Supply District
  • Slater Water Supply District
  • Jackson Water Supply District
  • Fort Leonard Wood Water Supply

For 2016, a total of 1,360 public water systems in 29 states received these awards, including those in Missouri.

“Water fluoridation is one of the best investments that a community can make to maintain the oral health of its citizens. It is equally as effective in preventing cavities in children and adults,” states Casey Hannan, MPH, Acting Director, CDC Division of Oral Health.

Fluoridation is highly cost effective. Studies continue to show that for every $1 a community invests in water fluoridation, $38 are saved in dental treatment costs. Community water fluoridation has been recognized by CDC as one of 10 great public health achievements of the

20th Century. CDC recommends water fluoridation as one of the most practical, cost-effective, equitable and safe measures a community can take to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health.

About the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: The department seeks to be the leader in promoting, protecting and partnering for health. More information about DHSS can be found at health.mo.gov.

*Original article online at https://pikecountyhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/1.8.18-CDC-Water-Flouridation-Awards-2016.pdf