Montana

WATER FLUORIDATION STATUS:

• PERCENT OF PEOPLE SERVED BY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE FLUORIDATED:
  2018:  30.7% – ranked #48 among the states (100% fluoridated is ranked #1)
  2016:  33.7%
  2014:  33.7%
  2012:  32.0%
  2006:  31.3%
  2000:  22.2%
  1992:  25.9%
• To see if your town is fluoridated, click here.
• To learn when your town was fluoridated, and which fluoridation chemical it uses, click here.

LATEST NEWS:

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

Montana’s FLUORIDATION LAW:

• The State of Montana does not mandate fluoridation.  Local governments control fluoridation policy in MT.  City councils can begin or discontinue fluoridation at their discretion, or by a referendum vote.  Each community’s fluoridation ordinance is unique.  To learn more about these fluoridation ordinances, click here.

For a quick overview, Michael Dolan, in his November 2021 Fluoridation Review, listed these cities and towns in Montana:

This list is derived from an Excel file posted on the Montana Department of Environmental Quality website, 2020. Here we list only municipalities and other water systems with at least 400 customers. The list does not specify if the source of fluoride is natural or artificial. Cities and towns with at least 0.7 mg/L fluoride are listed as fluoridated. Concentrations greater than 1.0 mg/L are indicated in parentheses. Many of the measurements were made five to ten years ago.

Fluoridated cities and towns: Bozeman, Broadview (1.1), Brockton, Cascade, Circle (1.3), Clyde Park WD, Culbertson, Denton (1.3), Fairview (2.2), Fort Benton, Fort Peck, Fromberg, Gardiner Park Co. WD, Grass Range, Gore Hill Co. WD (2.7), Harlowton, Hot Springs, Jordan, St. Labre Indian School (2.7), Worden Ballantine Yellowstone,

Non-fluoridated cities and towns: Absarokee Water and Sewer Dist., Alberton, Anaconda, Baker, Belgrade, Belt, Big Sandy, Bigfork Co. WSD, Billings, Big Mountain Water Co., Boulder, Bridger, Broadus, Butte, Consolidated Charlo Lake Co. WSD, Chester, Chinook, Choteau, Colstrip, Columbia Falls, Columbus, Conrad, Cooke, Corham County WSD, Cut Bank, Darby, Deer Lodge, Montana State Prison-Deer Lodge, Dillon, Dodson, Dutton, East Helena, Ekalaka, Ennis, Eureka, Fairfield, Forest Park Water RSID 24, Forsyth, Geraldine, Glendive, Hamilton, Hardin, Harlem, Helena, Hill Co. WD, Hungry Horse Co. WSD, Joliet, Kalispell Public Works, Lakeside Water Syst., Laurel, Lewiston, Libby, Little Bighorn Battlefield NM, Lockwood WSD, Lodge Grass, Missoula, Ptarmigan Village, Inc.

DATA ON ORAL HEALTH:

• 2006. Montana Oral Health Plan. Montana’s response to “A National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health, Healthy People 2010, and the Future of Dentistry”. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. No mention of dental fluorosis.
• 2007. Montana 2005-2006 Study of Oral Health Needs: 3rd Graders and Head Start Children. By Rosina Everitte, MPH. June 22. No mention of dental fluorosis.

FAN’S STATE COORDINATOR IN Montana:

If you live in MT and want to get the fluoride out of your water contact Joan Stanley, FAN’s Montana state coordinator.

Montana COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE REJECTED FLUORIDATION:

MONTANA WATER SYSTEMS WITH HIGH FLUORIDE LEVELS:

FLUORIDE POLLUTION SOURCES IN MONTANA:

In 2008, Montana ranked #35 out of 48 states for Hydrogen Fluoride releases (242,102 pounds) into the environment. 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.