WATER FLUORIDATION STATUS:

• PERCENT OF PEOPLE SERVED BY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE FLUORIDATED:
  2018: 85.9% – ranked #20 among the states (100% fluoridated is ranked #1)
  2016: 87.4%
  2014: 87.1%
  2012:  86.3%
  2006:  73.6%
  2000:  80.9%
  1992:  67.4%
• To see if your town is fluoridated, click here.
• To learn when your town was fluoridated, and which fluoridation chemical it uses, click here.

DELAWARE FLUORIDE DATA FOR EACH WATER SYSTEM

• 2020: Levels of Fluoride in the State’s Drinking Water and Fluoridation Status: 6 Public Water Systems with fluoride levels over 0.71 ppm.

It is illegal for any Public Water System to deliver drinking water with fluoride concentrations higher than 2.0 ppm, which is still exceedingly high. Water departments deal with this issue by using filter systems to reduce the high levels of fluoride, in some cases blending with water supplies that have lower levels, or the abandonment of the water supply.

To find out the fluoride levels in your drinking water, contact your local water department. You can also go online to CDC’s My Water’s Fluoride.

Fluoridated Cities and Towns in Delaware noted by Michael Dolan in his November 2021 Fluoridation Review:

Kent County – fluoridated: Camden-Wyoming, Clayton, Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Felton, Frederica, Harrington, Holly Hill Estates, Magnolia, Milford, North Dover, Smyrna, West Dover, Windsong Farms. Non-fluoridated: Barkers Landing, Camden District, Canterbury Homes, Chimney Hill, Foxpoint Subdivision, Garrison Lake District, Lakeland MHP, Oak Crest Farms, Pinewood Acres, Southwood Acres, Woodfield.

New Castle County – fluoridated: Artesian Water Co., Delaware City, Delaware Correctional Center, Fox Hunter Crossing, Middletown, Municipal Services Commission, Newark, Suez Water Delaware, Thomas Cove, Wilmington. Non-fluoridated: Augustus Creek, Burton Wood, Church Creek, East NCC District, Mallard District, Northwest District, Southeast District, Winterthur.

Sussex County – fluoridated: Bethany Beach, Blades, Bridgeville, Dagsboro, Delmar, Dewey Beach, Frankford, Georgetown, Greenwood, Henlopen Acres, Laurel, Lewes, Millsboro, Milton, Rehoboth Beach, Seaford, Selbyville, South Bethany. Non-fluoridated: Angola Reach Estates, Angola District, Baywood Golf and Residential Community, Bethany Bay Ocean View, Bridgeville District, Cape Windsor Community Association, Clearbrook Estates, Colonial East MH Estates, Cool Branch, The Glade, Laurel Village MHP, Lewes District, Lochwood District, Mallard Lakes, Meadows District, Mobile Garden #1, Ocean View, Rehoboth Bay Community, Rehoboth District, South Shores, Southern Shores, Stockley Center, Sussex Shores Water Co., Swann Keys.

LATEST NEWS:

• To see the latest news on fluoride developments in Delaware, click here.
• To see an updated list of Delaware professionals calling for an end to fluoridation, click here.

DELAWARE’S MANDATORY FLUORIDATION LAW:

• Delaware Code Annex title 16, § 124 mandates statewide public water fluoridation in all communities unless they weren’t fluoridated prior to 1974 and voted that year against fluoridation.  To learn more about this law, click here.
• As of 1998 fluoridation is mandated for all municipalities but not rural water districts. State funds will pay for fluoridation equipment, but not chemicals, for three years from date of passage of the law. Delaware, which had previously passed a mandatory law in 1968, changed it to require a referendum in 1974, then changed it again to a mandatory law in 1998. Delaware provides funds for fluoridation equipment for 3 years from the date of passage of the law.

DATA ON ORAL HEALTH:

• 2002. Delaware Oral Health Assessment of Third Grade Children. Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health. May. No mention of dental fluorosis.
• 2013. KIDS COUNT in Delaware Issue Brief. Oral Health. By the Center for Community Research, University of Delaware (Newark DE). Spring.
  This document (oral health issue brief) with funding provided by HRSA # T12HP14660. No mention of dental fluorosis.
• 2013-b. Delaware Smiles. The Oral Health of Delaware’s Children. Delaware Health and Social Services, Bureau of Oral Health and Dental Services. August. PROJECT FUNDING. Title V Block Grant, Delaware Division of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. No mention of dental fluorosis.
• 2014. Delaware Oral Health Plan 2014. Goals and Objectives. Delaware Health and Social Services, Bureau of Oral Health and Dental Services. June 5. No mention of dental fluorosis.

FAN’S STATE COORDINATOR IN DELAWARE:

If you live in DE and want to get the fluoride out of your water contact Stuart Cooper, FAN’s campaign coordinator.

FLUORIDE POLLUTION SOURCES IN DELAWARE:

In 2008, Connecticut ranked #33 out of 48 states for Hydrogen Fluoride releases (307,600 pounds). The following data comes from EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). “Total releases” includes both water and air pollution. It’s important to note, however, that not all industries or sources that release fluoride into the environment are included in the TRI.

Print PDF