Tampa Bay governments that have long added fluoride to public water systems are now letting their supply of the mineral run out ahead of a new statewide ban.
A law approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis last month requires municipalities to cease adding fluoride to their public drinking water systems by July 1. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adding fluoride to public drinking water helps prevent cavities and tooth decay.
Here is when residents of some of Tampa Bay’s cities and counties can expect the added fluoride to run out.
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg announced Tuesday that it will stop adding fluoride to its public drinking water system next week.
“Though this change is beyond our control, I want to emphasize that it will not impact the safety or quality of our water, which continues to meet/exceed all federal & state standards,” Mayor Ken Welch wrote on X.
“We understand that some residents may be concerned with the loss of fluoridated water, and my administration is actively working with community partners to provide resources and support for maintaining dental health for impacted residents who need and desire it.”
Claude Tankersley, the city’s public works administrator, recently told a reporter that St. Petersburg stopped buying fluoride in anticipation of the law. He said the city is letting its fluoride supply run out.
The city said it has for decades adjusted fluoride levels in its water supply as recommended by the federal government for optimal dental health.
The announcement pointed out that state law does not require the removal of naturally occurring fluoride. The city said it will continue to monitor those levels to ensure they remain within safe parameters.
St. Petersburg recommends that residents use toothpaste and mouth rinses with fluoride, get regular dental check-ups, limit sugary foods and beverages and ask dental professionals about supplemental fluoride treatments if necessary.
Tampa
The Tampa Water Department received its last shipment of the mineral on April 4, according to department spokesperson Liz Hall.
The city expects to run out of its fluoride by June 30, she said.
“The Tampa Water Department is dedicated to delivering clean, high-quality drinking water that meets all federal and state regulations,” Hall said. “We encourage anyone who has questions about their dental health following this new regulation to speak directly with their dental professional.”
Hillsborough
Hillsborough’s water treatment plant in Lithia, one of four plants in the county, has already stopped supplying fluoride to the public water system, according to county spokesperson Chris Wilkerson.
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The county has also not ordered fluoride since March, Wilkerson said.
County commissioners voted to keep fluoride in the public water supply in February despite a motion from commissioner Joshua Wostal to remove it. But the vote soon became moot with the change in state law.
Temple Terrace
Temple Terrace stopped its fluoridation on May 15, according to public works and utilities director Jason Warrenfeltz.
Pinellas
Pinellas County will stop adding fluoride to the water by July 1 to comply with the new law, a county communications director confirmed Tuesday.
The county began fluoridating its water in 2004, according to its website. Pinellas paused fluoridation for a year until 2012, but has since kept it in the water supply.
The Tampa Bay Times won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing for a series of editorials that reversed the decision to end water fluoridation in Pinellas.
Clearwater
One of Clearwater’s three water treatment plants that services the downtown area stopped fluoridating its water on May 30, according to city spokesperson Rob Simpson.
A second plant, which services south Clearwater, is expected to run out of its fluoride supply by June 13, Simpson added. The last plant serves north Clearwater and does not fluoridate its water, he said.
Clearwater does not plan to buy any more fluoride after using up its supply.
“The city is dedicated to produce safe, clean drinking water that meets, or exceeds all federal and state safety requirements,” Simpson said.
Dunedin
Dunedin’s water treatment facility will stop fluoridating its water on June 30, city spokesperson Sue Burness said. The city hasn’t purchased any fluoride in 2025, she added.
While Dunedin will soon stop adding fluoride, Burness noted that the state law does not require the city to remove naturally occurring fluoride in its water supply.
“It is important that residents know Fluoride is a naturally occurring ion and mineral found in groundwater and in Florida’s Aquifer,” Burness said.“Naturally occurring Fluoride is present in the City of Dunedin’s drinking water source and we plan to continue to monitor its existence in our drinking water supply.”
Oldsmar
Oldsmar stopped fluoridating its water on June 4 when the supply ran out to comply with the new law, according to Johna Jahn, Oldsmar’s utilities administrator and assistant public works director.
Residents are set to be notified in their utility bill, Jahn wrote in an emailed statement. The city does not offer health services, but recommends that residents contact their health care providers for resources.
Original article online at: https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2025/06/10/flouride-water-tampa-bay-state-law-ban/