Bandar Seri Begawan – The Public Works Department, under the Department of Water Services, the sole water authority in the country, will be providing 98% of the population with fluoridated water, by June this year.

In a statement during a ‘Forum on Fluoride Toothpaste’ the Director-General of Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Dr Rib Norlila Dato Paduka lij Abd Jalil stated that fluoridated water would be received by 95% of the population by the year 2012.

In a move to support oral health in the sultanate, the department will be providing this through its network of treatment plants in all the four districts. It will be carried out in Tasek, Mangkubau, Bukit Barun, Layong, Seria Sumbi ling and Batang Duni Water Treatment Plants.

Currently, all except Tasek Water Treatment Plant provides fluoridated water but Tasek however is expected to supply fluoridated water to the population by June and as the sole water authority, they provide potable water to 99.9% of the Brunei population. Working closely with the Department of Dental Services, the department will continue to monitor fluoride levels of water systems, the press release added.

Accredited with ISO 17025, the department will continuously support the Department of Dental Services in achieving their goals.

As part of the initiative to maintain the oral health status of the country, the Department of Water Services will continuously monitor fluoride levels in the water treatment plants as well as water from the consumer taps to support the targeted goals set by the Ministry of Health. — Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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See also: Feb 21, 2009: Brunei: Safe Fluoridated Water For All