Starting in early March, Airdrie residents will again drink fluoridated water as the City of Calgary reintroduces fluoride into its municipal water supply.
The City of Airdrie purchases its water from Calgary, where it is treated before traveling through supply mains to local reservoirs and then into homes, businesses, and fire hydrants. Because Airdrie does not operate its own water treatment facilities, decisions about treatment—including fluoridation—are made by the Calgary City Council, not Airdrie’s municipal government.
Calgary is commissioning newly installed fluoridation equipment at its two water treatment plants, with an official implementation date expected in early March. The move follows a 2021 plebiscite in which 62 per cent of Calgary voters supported reinstating fluoride.
The fluoridation process will adjust fluoride levels in the water supply to 0.7 milligrams per litre (mg/L), aligning with Health Canada’s recommendations for optimal dental benefits. Natural fluoride levels in Calgary’s Bow and Elbow Rivers water sources range from 0.1 to 0.4 mg/L.
Health Canada, Alberta Health, and Alberta Health Services all support community water fluoridation as a safe and effective measure to reduce cavities, particularly for those without access to regular dental care. More than 90 health organizations, including the World Health Organization, endorse water fluoridation as a public health initiative.
Airdrie residents concerned about fluoride in their drinking water can remove it using specialized home filtration systems certified to NSF/ANSI 58 standards.
Some Airdrie and Calgary residents oppose water fluoridation, citing concerns over individual choice and potential health effects. Safe Water Calgary, an advocacy group against fluoridation, has launched a petition opposing the reintroduction of fluoride. However, Health Canada, Alberta Health, and the World Health Organization maintain that fluoridation at recommended levels is safe and effective.
Reintroducing fluoride required infrastructure upgrades at Calgary’s Glenmore and Bearspaw water treatment plants. The $28.1-million capital project, funded through water rates rather than property taxes, included a retrofit at Glenmore and the construction of a new fluoridation facility at Bearspaw. Ongoing operational costs are expected to be approximately $1 million annually.
Calgary’s decision to remove fluoride in 2011 was tied to the aging infrastructure, which had reached the end of its lifespan. After fluoride was discontinued, a University of Calgary study found that cavity rates among Calgary children increased compared to those in Edmonton, where fluoridation remained in place.
Calgary expects fluoride levels to be adjusted in the coming weeks, with full implementation anticipated in early March.
Original article online at: https://www.discoverairdrie.com/articles/starting-in-march-this-change-is-coming-to-airdries-water-supply