This change affects only the additional fluoride CAW has historically added at its treatment plants and does not alter any other aspect of CAW’s water treatment process.
For Immediate Release: Friday, March 20, 2026
BIRMINGHAM – Central Alabama Water (CAW) today announced it is no longer adding fluoride to its drinking water. This change affects only the additional fluoride CAW has historically added at its treatment plants and does not alter any other aspect of CAW’s water treatment process.
Fluoridation of drinking water has always been a local option. Neither the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nor the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) require utilities to add fluoride. Instead, they require systems not to exceed EPA’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) of fluoride in drinking water. CAW has notified ADEM regarding the change in fluoridation practices.
Fluoride was incorporated into toothpaste, with nationally marketed fluoride toothpastes emerging in the mid-1950s and quickly becoming widely used and encouraged by dental associations. Prior to this development 70 years ago, the American Dental Association and the U.S. Public Health Service encouraged water systems to add fluoride to drinking water to prevent dental decay.
The decision to end CAW’s drinking water fluoridation was not made lightly. It was based on a comprehensive evaluation of safety, infrastructure and financial considerations. In making this decision, CAW also considered ongoing public and scientific discussion about potential health impacts from ingesting fluoride over a lifetime, particularly for sensitive groups, and recognized that many customers now receive significant fluoride from toothpaste and other topical products like mouthwash. CAW is not taking a position on these medical issues but acknowledges that there is active debate among researchers, health agencies and community stakeholders.
“While we acknowledge there are strong opinions about fluoride in drinking water, this decision is based on our operational, safety and financial needs,” CEO Jeffrey F. Thompson said. “This change reduces chemical handling risks for our employees, eliminates the use of aging equipment and allows us to focus resources on delivering safe, reliable and exceptionally high-quality drinking water.”
Key considerations
- CAW is committed to producing high-quality drinking water for our customers; our state-certified chemists and licensed operators continually test water to ensure that it meets or exceeds all U.S. EPA and Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) regulatory standards.
- Fluoridation involves the handling, storage and metering of hydrofluorosilicic acid, a hazardous highly corrosive industrial‑grade chemical that requires specialized safety controls, extensive personal protective equipment and emergency response planning. Ending the addition of fluoride reduces potential chemical exposure for employees and lowers the likelihood of accidental spills.
- The fluoridation systems at CAW’s water treatment plants are near the end of their useful life cycle and require increasing maintenance and component replacement. Ending fluoridation avoids the need for immediate capital investments (exceeding $3.7 million) as well as recurring maintenance and chemical costs exceeding $250,000 per year.
- Some customers, health professionals and officials have raised questions about the long‑term health effects of ingesting fluoride via drinking water and the necessity of ingestion‑based exposure since topical administration of fluoride via toothpastes and mouthwash has been widely available for decades. While CAW does not take a position on these claims, ending drinking water fluoridation allows customers and their health care providers to make more individualized decisions about fluoride use.
Guidance for customers
CAW does not provide medical or dental advice and encourages customers to consult health professionals about fluoride for themselves and their families. If you have questions about fluoride and your oral health, a conversation with your dentist, doctor or another health care provider is the best place to start.
About Central Alabama Water
Central Alabama Water serves customers in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount and Walker counties. It operates four water treatment facilities and maintains more than 4,150 miles of water mains in its distribution network. Please visit caw‑al.gov for more information and to view our FAQs on Fluoride in Drinking Water.
