New York
Water Fluoridation Status:
- PERCENT OF PEOPLE SERVED BY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE FLUORIDATED:
2018: 71.5% – ranked #32 among the states (100% fluoridated is ranked #1)
2016: 71.1%
2014: 71.4% (CDC originally listed it at 76.0%)
2012: 71.8%
2006: 72.9%
2000: 67.8%
1992: 69.7% - To see if your town is fluoridated, click here.
- To learn when your town was fluoridated, and which fluoridation chemical it uses, click here.
- SEE NEW YORK CITY’S BROCHURE (undated) ON FLUORIDATION (see original at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wsstat00b.pdf)
A graph of fluoridation’s lack of effect on caries in New York State by Chris Neurath. Chris used available information from the state and created this graph in December 2023.
NY.graph-showing-fluoridation-ineffectiveness-12-5-23-by-c-neurath
For a quick overview, Michael Dolan, in his November 2021 Fluoridation Review, listed these cities and towns in New York:
This list was provided by Carol Kopf of the New State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc., who compiled it from the CDC My Water’s Fluoride website, 2020.
Fluoridated cities and towns: Adams Center, Adams Crossing Mobile Home Park, Adams Village, Adelaar Water District, Alabama Water District One, Alabama Water District No. 2, Albion, Albion Village, Alexander Water District 2, Alexander Village, Allegany Comprehensive Water District, Allegany Water District 1, Allegany Water District 3, Allegany Water District 8, Allegany Village, Alpine Manor Home for Adults, Amawalk Heights Water District, Amawalk-Shenorock Water District, Amherst, Angola Village, Applehill Farm Water District, Arcade Valley Estates, Arcade Village, Arcadia-Lyons CSA, Athens Village, Attica Correctional, Attica Village, Aurora, Aurora Water District 1, Aurora Water District 7, Aurora Water District 235, Avoca Village, Avon, Avon Village, Baldwinsville Village, Ballston-Spa Village, Barker, Barre WDS, Batavia, Batavia Consolidated Water District, Bath Village, Bear Ridge Lake Water District, Bennett’s Mobile Court, Benton Water District 1, Benton Water District 2, Benton Water District 3, Binghamton, Bloomfield Village Consolidated, Bluff Point Water District, Boston, Brant, Brewster Heights, Briarcliff Manor Village, Bristol Water District 1, Brockport Village, Brunswick Consolidated Water District, Brunswick Water District 11, Brunswick Water District 16, Buchanan Village, Bucktown, Buffalo, Cadyville, Caledonia Town District 3 (LCSWA), Caledonia Town Water District, Caledonia Village, Cambria, Campbell Water District 2, Campbell Water District 3, Canandaigua, Canandaigua Town Consolidated Water District, Canandaigua-Farmington Water District, Canandaigua-Hopewell Consolidated Water District, Carlisle Gardens Lockport Water District 1, Carlton, Carthage Village, Castile Water District 1 – Silver Lake INS, Castle Point Mobile Home Park, Castorland Village, Champion Water District 1 (Great Bend), Clarendon, Clay, Cliff Haven, Clifton Springs, Clinton, Cobleskill Village, Cobleskill Water District, Colden, Conklin, Continental Village, Cooperstown, Country Acres Estates, Country Gardens, Country Side Park, DANC (Watertown/Ft. Drum), Dansville Village, Delhi Village, Delphi Falls Park, Dewitt Water District North, Dewitt Water District South, Dickinson Water District 2, Dickinson Water District 3, Dickinson Water District 6, Dickinson Water District 7, Dickinson Water District 8, Dresden Village, East Aurora, East Bloomfield Water District 2, East Greenbush, East Louisville, Eden, Eden-Wepax Road, Elbridge Village, Elma Water District 1, Elmira, Elmsford Village, Endictott, Erwin, Evans, Farnham, Firthcliffe, Forest Country Park, Fort Drum, Fort Edward Water District 1, Franklinville, Franklinville Village, Fulton, Gaines, Gardeau, Genesee, Genesco Village, Geneseo, Geneva, Geneva Water District 2, Geneva Water District 8, Gloversville, Gouverneur, Gouverneur Village, Gowanda Village, Grand Island, Greater Plattsburgh Water District, Greenburgh, Guilderland, Hale Creek Asacta Center, Halfmoon, Hamburg, Hamilton College, Hamilton Village, Hammondsport Village, Hanover Water District 1, Hanover Water District 2, Harriman Village, Hartland, Helena, Henderson, Highland Falls Village, Highlands, Hilton, Holley Village, Horseheads Village, Hounsfield Water District 2, Hounsfield Water District 3 (Wescott Beach), Hounsfield Water District 5, Hudson Falls Village, Huron Water District 3, Iroquois Job Corp. Center, Irving Subd., Irvington, Jamestown, Jordan Village, Kendall, Kendall Water District 6, Kenmore, Kensico, Keuka Park, Kitchawan, Lafargeville (T. Orleans), Lakeview Mobile Manor, Lancaster, Larchmont Village, LCWAS Consolidated Water District, Leicester, Leray, Lewiston Village, Lewiston Water Improvement Area, Lima, Lima Village, Lincoln Village Lockport Water District 2, Little Valley, Little Valley Village, Livionia, Lockport, Louisville Housing, Lyndonville Village, Macedon TWP Water District 2, Macey Lane, Manchester, Marathon Village, Marion-Arcadia, Marlborough, Massena Village, Meadowbrook, Medina Village, Menands, Middleburgh Village, Middleport Village, Middletown, Mill River, Milo, Mirror Lake Trailer Park, Mohawk Valley Water Authority, Monticello Village, Montrose Improvement District, Morrisonville, Morrisville Village, Mount Vernon, Murray, New Castle/Stanwood, New Palz, New Rochelle, New Windsor, New York City, Newark Village, Newburgh, Newfane, Newstead, Niagara County, Niagara Falls, Niagara Water Improvement Area, Niskayuna TWP Water District 11, North Caslte, North Greenbush Water District 2, North Tonawanda, Northern Westchester Joint WW, Northwoods Estates, Norwich, Norwood Village, Oakfield, Oakfield Village, Ogdensburg, Old Farm Hill, Old Forge Village, Olean, Oneonta, Onondaga County Water Authority, Ontario Town Benefit Area 1, Orchard Park, Ossining, Oswego, Pace University, Painted Post Village, Palmyra, Pamelia Water District 2, Pamelia Water District 5, Pendleton, Penn-Yan Village, Perry Center, Perry Village, Phelps, Phelps Village, Philadelphia Village, Pine Grove Park, Plattsburgh, Pleasant Ridge Water District, Pleasant Valley Garden Apartments, Pleasantville, Poestenkill, Port Dickinson Village, Port Gibson, Porter Master Improvement Area, Portville, Portville Village, Potsdam Village, Prospect St. Water District, Pulteney, Raquette Lake, Ravena Village, Rensselaer, Richmondville Village, Ridgeway, River Woods Estates, Riverside, Rochester, Rock Terrace Trailer Park, Rolling Hills MHP, Royalton, Sackets Harbor Village, Sandusky, Sandy’s Mobile Acres, Saratoga Springs, Scarsdale, Schaghticoke, Schenectady, SCIO Water District, Scotia Village, Scriba Water District (Oswego), Sea Breeze, Seneca, Shady Acres Mobile Park, Shelby, Shortsville Village, Sidney Village, Silver Creek Village, Skaneateles, Skaneateles Village, Skytop Apartments, Sleepy Hollow, Sodus, Sodus Point, Sodus Village, Sodus-Huron-Wolcott-Butler CSA, Somerset, South Albany, South Avon, Southeast Beekmantown, Southside Water Inc., Springville Village, St. Regis Falls, St. Lawrence Centre Mall, Stamford Village, Sunset Townhouses, Syracuse, Tamerack Valley M.H.P., Tarrytown, Thendara Water District, Theresa Village, Tindall Corners, Tonawanda, Troy, Tully Village, USMA Lusk System, United Water Westchester, Urbana, Versailles, Vestal, Victor, Warnerville, Warsaw, Waterford, Watertown, WeeWood Park, Wellsburg Village, Wellsville Village, Westbury, Westchester County Water District 1, Westchester County Water District 2, Westchester County Water District 3, Westchester Joint Water Works, Westfield, Wheatfield, White Plains, Williamson, Williamsville Village, Willowwood Apartments, Wilna, Wilson, Wilton, Windsor Farms, Wolcott, Woods Mills, Wyoming Correctional, Yates, Yonkers, York, Yorkshire, Yorktown, Youngstown.
Counties, cities and towns that have repealed or rejected fluoridation [Source: New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.]
Nassau County, Rockland County, Suffolk County, Albany, Amsterdram, Beacon, Canton, Carle Place, Central Bridge Water District, Corning, Elba, Homer, Ithaca, Johnstown, Levittown, Manhassett, Naples, Oneida, Poughkeepsie, Pulaski, Riverhead, Rouses Point, Romulus, and Walden.
NEW YORK CITY: WATER TREATMENT
All groundwater entering New York City’s distribution system is treated with chlorine, fluoride, food grade phosphoric acid, and, in some cases, sodium hydroxide. New York City uses chlorine to meet the New York State Sanitary Code and federal Safe Drinking Water Act disinfection requirements. Fluoride, at a concentration of approximately 0.7 part per million, is added to help prevent tooth decay and has been added since 1966 in accordance with the New York City Health Code. Phosphoric acid is added to create a protective film on pipes that reduces the release of metals such as lead and copper from household plumbing. Additionally, a sequestering phosphate is applied at several wells to prevent the precipitation of naturally occurring minerals, mostly iron and manganese, in the distribution mains and customers’ household piping. Air stripper facilities can be operated at several wells to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Reference: See Treatment at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dep/water/groundwater-supply-system.page
fluoridAtion law change
- Read the new NYS law on fluoridation
- $10 million allocated for fluoridation in NYS 2015-2016 budget:
For grants to counties, cities, towns or villages that own their public water system and the water supply for such system for the purpose of providing assistance towards the costs of installation, including but not limited to technical and administrative costs associated with planning, design and construction, and start-up of fluoridation systems, and repair or upgrading of fluoridation equipment for such public water systems……………………….. 10,000,000
SEE – Page 462, Department of Health, Aid to Localities 2015-2016 - NYS DOH Fluoridation Grants Due Sept 18, 2017
- NYS DOH Fluoridation Grants: 2015-2016 (Announcement)
- NYS DOH Fluoridation Grants: 2015
- Over 2 million New Yorkers targeted for new water fluoridation schemes.
Water Fluoridation AccidentS:
- Potsdam: September 10, 1981
Cause of Accident: The diffuser, a plastic pipe that controls flow of fluoride into the water system broke off, allowing the entire contents of a drum of fluoride, ten times a normal “dose”, into the water supply. The diffuser was found outside the water treatment plant where it had been flushed by backwash.
Results: Village residents were without potable water, and in a state of “water emergency” from 2:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. The village administrator said the biggest cost would be overtime pay for Public Works personnel. This would not include cost of investigation by State Health Dept. personnel.
Source: Courier-Freeman (8/18/81) - Syracuse: March 29, 1977
Cause of Accident: 1,200 gallons of fluoride was accidentally pumped into Skaneateles Creek from a ruptured underground fluoride tank.
Results: Within hours of the spill, hundreds of dead fish lined the banks of the creek. 1,900 previously stocked trout assumed dead.
Source: Auburn Citizen
Latest News:
- To see the latest news on fluoride developments in New York, click here.
- To see an updated list of New York professionals calling for an end to fluoridation, click here.
- NYT article, Feb 23, 2015, New York’s Fluoridation Fuss, 50 Years Later
New york’s fluoridation law:
- The State of New York does not mandate fluoridation. Local governments control fluoridation policy in NY. City councils can begin or discontinue fluoridation at their discretion, or by a referendum vote. To learn more about these fluoridation laws, click here.
Of special interest:
- Grant funds available from New York State for water fluoridation 2015-2016
- Study: Relationship between municipal water fluoridation and preterm birth in Upstate New York. State University of New York (SUNY) researchers found more premature births in fluoridated than non-fluoridated upstate New York communities, according to a presentation made at the American Public Health Association’s annual meeting on November 9, 2009, in Philadelphia. According to the study: “Domestic water fluoridation was associated with an increased risk of PTB [preterm birth]. This relationship was most pronounced among women in the lowest SES [socio-economic-status] groups (>10% poverty) and those of non-white racial origin,” according to Rachel Hart, et al. Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, SUNY School of Public Health. (See abstract)
- 2008 – AKWESASNE. St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Data Report: Fluoride. 2008. CAA Fluoride Grant: XA98279801-3.
Data on oral health:
- 2005. Oral Health Plan for New York State. By the New York State Department of Health. August. This effort was made possible in part by funding from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Oral Health, Cooperative Agreement 03022. No mention of dental fluorosis.
- 2005. Oral Health Status of Third Grade Children. By Kumar JV, Altshul DL, Cooke TL, Green EL. New York State Oral Health Surveillance System. December 15. No mention of dental fluorosis.
- 2005. Children’s Oral Health. By the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (Albany NY). No mention of dental fluorosis.
- 2012. Oral Health in New York City. A data report from the New York City Department of Health. NYC Vital Signs, Volume 11, No. 5, June 2012. No mention of dental fluorosis.
- 2014. Oral Health Plan for New York State. December 2014. By the New York State Department of Health. December. This effort was made possible in part by funding from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Oral Health, Cooperative Agreement 03022. No mention of dental fluorosis.
FAN’S STATE COORDINATOR IN NEW YORK:
- If you live in NY and want to get the fluoride out of your water contact FAN’s state coordinator, Carol Kopf at nyscof@aol.com
NEW YORK COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE REJECTED FLUORIDATION:
| Date | City | County | Population | Detail |
| Oct 17, 2017 | Walden | Orange | 6,978 | Village Board voted 4-2 to end fluoridation (See update on 2-14-18) |
| Feb 4, 2016 | Cortland | Cortland | 19,000 | Refused state grant of $50,000 to determine engineering needs for fluoridation |
| May 5, 2015 | Oneida | Madison | 21,147 Oneida Water District |
|
| Nov 2012 | Pulaski | Oswego | 2,367 | Quit after 7 years |
| Nov 2012 | Romulus | Seneca | 400 | |
| Oct 2012 | Cassadaga | Chautauqua | 631 | Proposal defeated |
| Oct 2012 | Lily Dale | Chautauqua | Year-round pop = 275 * * * * * * * * Visitors per year = 22,000 |
Proposal defeat in Cassadaga affected Lily Dale |
| May 2011 | Naples Village | Ontario | 1,070 | |
| Dec 2009 | Beacon | Dutchess | 15,000 | |
| Nov 2008 | Corning | Steuben | 10,551 | Proposal defeated |
| June 2008 | Elba | Genesee | 2,370 | Ended fluoridation |
| Feb 2008 | Poughkeepsie | Dutchess | 29,654 | Quit after 56 years |
| Aug 2007 | Cobleskill | Schoharie | 4,536 | Quit after 54 years |
| Nov 2006 | Central Bridge Water System | Schoharie | ||
| Nov 2005 | Homer | Cortland | 3,248 | Quit after 26 years |
| Feb 2003 | Canton | St. Lawrence | 6,077 | Quit after 27 years |
| Aug 2002 | Oneida | Madison | 10,723 | Proposal defeated |
| Nov 2000 | Ithaca | Tompkins | 29,974 | Proposal defeated |
| Nov 1999 | Johnstown | Fulton | 8,438 | Proposal defeated |
| May 1997 | Amsterdam | Montgomery | 17,533 | Proposal defeated |
| Nov 1997 | Western Nassau County | Nassau | 28,000 | Quit after 23 years |
| Feb 1996 | Carle Place | Nassau | 5,130 | Quit after 44 years |
| Dec 1994 | Albany | Albany | 93,963 | Proposal defeated |
| Aug 1991 | Suffolk County | Suffolk | 1,512,224 | Suffolk County Legislature rejected its Health Commissioner’s fluoridation plan. Suffolk County, as a whole, was never fluoridated. |
| 1983 | Levittown | Nassau | 51,880 | Quit after 29 years |
| 1962 | Riverhead | Suffolk | ||
| May 13, 1958 | Manhasset-Lakeville Water District | Nassau | Voters Turn Out in Record Numbers to Defeat By Four To One Proposal to Fluoridate Public water Supply, Manhasset Mail. |
FLUORIDE POLLUTION SOURCES IN NEW YORK:
In 2008, New York ranked #28 out of 48 states for Hydrogen Fluoride releases (657,256 pounds). The state also released 20 pounds of Fluorine into the environment.
In 2010, New York ranked out of states for Hydrogen Fluoride releases (411,239 pounds). The state also released 32 pounds of Fluorine into the environment.
In 2011, New York ranked out of states for Hydrogen Fluoride releases (388,310 pounds). The state also released 18 pounds of Fluorine 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.
| 2008 HYDROGEN FLUORIDE Releases (in pounds) |
2010 HYDROGEN FLUORIDE Releases (in pounds) |
2011 HYDROGEN FLUORIDE Releases (in pounds) |
Type of Industry | Name of Industry |
| 160,459 | 58,000 | Coal-fired power plant | DANSKAMMER GENERATING FACILITY. 994 RIVER RD, NEWBURGH, New York 12550 (ORANGE) | |
| 102,000 | 113,979 | Aluminum | ALCOA INC. PARK AVE E, MASSENA, New York 13662 (ST LAWRENCE) | |
| 99,900 | 90,270 | Aluminum | REYNOLDS METALS CO ST LAWRENCE REDUCTION PLANT. 194 COUNTY RT 45, MASSENA, New York 13662 (ST LAWRENCE) | |
| 88,000 | 47,000 | Coal-fired power plant | DUNKIRK STEAM STATION. 106 POINT DR N, DUNKIRK, New York 14048 (CHAUTAUQUA) | |
| 73,893 | 52,086 | Chemicals | EASTMAN KODAK CO EASTMAN BUSINESS PARK. 1669 LAKE AVE, ROCHESTER, New York 14652 (MONROE) | |
| 57,000 | 33,000 | Coal-fired power plant | HUNTLEY GENERATING STATION. 3500 RIVER RD, TONAWANDA, New York 14150 (ERIE) | |
| 49,429 | 6 | Coal-fired power plant | AES WESTOVER. 720 RIVERSIDE DR, JOHNSON CITY, New York 13790 (BROOME) | |
| 41,062 | 833 | Transportation: Aircraft Engine /Engine Parts Manufacturing | TECT UTICA. 2 HALSEY RD, WHITESBORO, New York 13492 (ONEIDA) | |
| 14,913 | 11,272 | Coal-fired power plant | AES SOMERSET LLC. 7725 LAKE RD, BARKER, New York 14012 (NIAGARA) | |
| 6,156 | 1,161 | Coal-fired power plant | AES-CAYUGA LLC. 228 CAYUGA DR, LANSING, New York 14882 (TOMPKINS) | |
| 1,900 | – | Computers/Electronics | NXP SEMICONDUCTORS. HUDSON VALLEY RESEARCH PARK 2070 RT 52, HOPEWELL JUNCTION, New York 12533 (DUTCHESS) | |
| 1,700 | 2,600 | Computers/Electronics | IBM CORP. E FISHKILL FACILITY 2070 RT 52, HOPEWELL JUNCTION, New York 12533 (DUTCHESS) | |
| 500 | 500 | Primary Metals | DUNKIRK SPECIALTY STEEL LLC. 830 BRIGHAM RD, DUNKIRK, New York 14048 (CHAUTAUQUA) | |
| 250 | 250 | Computers/Electronics | ELECTRONIC DEVICES INC. 21 GRAY OAKS AVE, YONKERS, New York 10710 (WESTCHESTER) | |
| 127 | – | Coal-fired power plant | NIAGARA GENERATION LLC. 5300 FRONTIER AVE, NIAGARA FALLS, New York 14304 (NIAGARA) | |
| 127 | 128 | Fabricated Metals | BALL METAL BEVERAGE CONTAINER CORP. 95 BALLARD RD, MIDDLETOWN, New York 10940 (ORANGE) | |
| 36 | 32 | Stone/Clay/Glass | SAINT-GOBAIN ADVANCED CERAMICS -STRUCTURAL CERAMICS. 22 ACHESON DR, NIAGARA FALLS, New York 14303 (NIAGARA) | |
| 28 | 41 | Primary Metals | SPECIAL METALS CORP. 4317 MIDDLE SETTLEMENT RD, NEW HARTFORD, New York 13413 (ONEIDA) | |
| 20 | 32 | FLUORINE RELEASES | IBM CORP. E FISHKILL FACILITY 2070 RT 52, HOPEWELL JUNCTION, New York 12533 (DUTCHESS) | |
| 5 | 80 | Fabricated Metals | METAL CONTAINER CORP – NEWBURGH CAN PLANT. 130 BREUNIG RD, NEW WINDSOR, New York 12553 (ORANGE) |
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