Fluoridation
What is fluoridation?
Fluoride occurs naturally in many public water supplies. Surface water and many bore waters used for drinking water can contain concentrations of natural fluoride up to one milligram per litre (mg/L). Fluoride also occurs naturally in rocks, soils and plants.
Melbourne Water is required by State Government legislation under the Health (Fluoridation) Act 1973 to fluoridate the water supply.
Why fluoridate?
Fluoride in water helps prevent tooth decay. It is particularly effective in protecting children's teeth while they are forming and helps reduce dental decay in adult teeth.
What level of fluoride is in Melbourne's water?
The acceptable concentration range for fluoride in Melbourne's water is based on the National Health and Medical Research Council's draft 2003 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. The range is set according to the system's operating conditions and is related to how much water people will consume. The average amount added to Melbourne's water is less than one milligram per litre, equivalent to about one sugar grain in a cup of water. The acceptable fluoride concentration range for Melbourne is between 0.7 and 1.2 mg/L, with the optimum concentration being 0.9 mg/L.
How is fluoride added to Melbourne's water?
Fluoridation plants are located at the outlets of four of Melbourne's major reservoirs - Silvan, Cardinia, Yan Yean and Sugarloaf.
These fluoridation plants are designed to raise the natural fluoride concentration of the water supply to the optimum concentration with precision.
In the fluoridation plants a fluoride solution (either slurry or liquid) is added to the water supply, well upstream of consumers' taps to allow mixing and even distribution of fluoride in the water before consumption. Continuous automatic monitoring of the fluoride concentration in the dosed water supplied to consumers is performed at each fluoridation plant. Independent checks of fluoride concentration throughout the water supply network are also carried out by registered laboratories. Safety features are incorporated into each plant to prevent fluoride concentrations exceeding preset limits.
Is fluoride safe?
The introduction of fluoridation in drinking water has been assessed in detail and there have been numerous studies and inquiries worldwide and in Australia. This work reaffirms the lack of adverse health problems at the fluoride concentrations used in public water supply systems. Major studies have also substantiated initial claims that the improvements in dental health come at a minimal cost to the community.
Who supports fluoridation of drinking water?
Fluoride in drinking water is supported by the World Health Organization, the Australian Dental Association, the Australian Medical Association, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Australian College of General Practitioners and The Public Health Association of Australia Inc.
Fluoridation is recognised as a safe and effective public health measure demonstrated to improve the dental health of the community.
Further information
If you would like to know more about fluoride and health, please contact the Department of Human Services on 9616 8467 (Dental Health Unit) or 9637 4000 (Environmental Health Unit), or visit www.dhs.vic.gov.au (Department of Human Services), www.adavb.com.au (Australian Dental Association) or www.health.gov.au/nhmrc (National Health and Medical Research Council).