Fluoridation

Fluoridation

Drinking water in the Otay Water District’s service area is fluoridated. The District does not add fluoride to the water supply. It purchases treated drinking water from water wholesalers. The wholesalers supplement the existing fluoride in the water supply raising it to approximately 0.8 parts per million (ppm), the level recommended by public health experts for optimal dental health.

Some fluoride is already present in our water supply. Most water in San Diego County comes from the Colorado River or the Sierra snowpack. As water passes over the surface of the earth, it picks up fluoride through the natural erosion process. Fluoride is present in the water supply at approximately 0.2 ppm, with a range of 0.1 to 0.4 ppm. After January 2011, all water in the region’s distribution network has been consistently between 0.6 to 0.9 ppm.

We encourage customers who are taking or considering taking fluoride supplements to consult their medical or dental health care professionals.

More information about fluoridation is available by visiting the websites listed below the fluoride table.

Helpful Links

• American Dental Association – Fluoridation Facts
• American Dental Association – Fluoridation in Water
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention – Community Water Fluoridation
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California – Fluoridation Fact Sheet
• San Diego County Water Authority – The Fluoridation of Drinking Water