The Alabaster Water Department joined the list of Alabama cities that have discontinued adding fluoride to a public drinking water system this week.
The Alabaster Water Department said in a statement on Facebook June 8, that the decision was made after an evaluation of employee safety, equipment maintenance requirements, chemical handling procedures and long-term infrastructure needs for the fluoridation system.
“Fluoride is not used as part of the water treatment or disinfection process. The discontinuation of fluoridation does not affect the treatment, safety or quality of the drinking water itself,” the department stated.
“Water quality and regulatory compliance will continue to remain the highest priorities for the city of Alabaster.”
Almost all water contains naturally occurring fluoride, but usually at levels too low to prevent cavities. Some communities add fluoride to the water supply to prevent tooth decay, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Water fluoridation is not mandated by the state. Instead, the decision is left up to local water utilities.
The Alabaster Water Department said residents who want to continue receiving fluoride for dental health should contact their healthcare provider.
City leadership said cutting fluoride from the water will save the water department $50,000 to $100,000 a year and will help to stabilize rates, according to reports from ABC 33/40.
AL.com reached out to the Alabaster Water Department for additional comment but did not receive a response prior to publishing.
Fluoride cuts across Birmingham
Alabaster’s decision comes months after Central Alabama Water, the state’s largest water utility, which serves 770,000 residents, announced that it would no longer be adding fluoride to its drinking water.
The announcement came in March after significant cuts to the utility’s budget and staff. The utility cited aging equipment and maintenance issues in its decision to discontinue the use of fluoride.
The decision was met with protests from residents, former Central Alabama Water employees, health advocates and city leaders.
The city of Birmingham sued the utility, accusing its leaders of making the decision without considering public health, and asked a Jefferson County judge to force Central Alabama Water to continue adding fluoride to the water.
Although the judge initially ordered the utility to add fluoride back into the water until arguments were heard in court, the order was lifted in April.
Central Alabama Water defended its decision, in part, by pointing out that most of metro Birmingham had – unbeknownst to many – not been receiving fluoride through its pipes for years.
The utility’s attorney said that each of the four plants that serve the system had experienced malfunctions over the years which would cost millions to repair. And at the time the utility announced it was ending fluoridation, only one plant was actively providing the chemical to residents.
The response in Alabaster
People had mixed reactions to Alabaster Water Department’s decision to cut fluoride.
“As a scientist, geologist, a state certified public water operator and someone who has built most of their career in water chemistry in both public and private utilities…. Good,” Wade Farley said in a Facebook comment.
“There is no logical reason to be adding an additional chemical into a public water supply, and as someone who lives here, I’m happy it’s gone.”
“From someone that has teeth negatively impacted by childhood fluoride exposure, I commend you for removing it,” Becky Langley Willis commented.
“With no consideration from the residents of Alabaster. Thank you for setting our children up for failure,” Viviann Casey said.
“Suppose that’s better than raising rates again,” Nancy Clack Rockett said.
“Thank you! Ingesting fluoride is one of the primary reasons we filter our water,” Gabrielle Caucutt said.
Original article online at: https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2026/06/another-alabama-city-just-stopped-adding-fluoride-to-its-water.html