Equipment Leak Halts City Of Arvada's Supplemental Fluoride

ARVADA, CO — The City of Arvada is unable to provide supplemental fluoride in municipal water until mid-2020, officials announced Monday. The fluoride service had to be halted after an equipment issue at the city's Ralston Water Treatment Plant.

The plant was designed to use a liquid form of fluoride to supplement the water. The tank storing the liquid fluoride recently began to leak, and attempted repairs have been unsuccessful, officials said.

A leaking storage tank creates an unsafe environment for workers at the plant, the city said.

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Once it became clear that the leaking tank could not be repaired, the city worked with an engineering firm to design a new feed system, officials said. The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment is assisting the city in expediting approval of the new feed system.

The city has notified dental practices within Arvada so they can provide appropriate care during the fluoride outage, officials said.

Residents who have questions about their oral health during the fluoride outage are encouraged to contact their dentist. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children brush their teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Parents should ask their children's dental health provider about applying dental sealants. Adults should continue to practice good dental hygiene, including brushing twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride, flossing regularly and obtaining routine dental care, officials said.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element and is present in small amounts in almost all water supplies. Arvada voters approved a community fluoridation program in 1967, but there are no state regulations that require community water fluoridation. There are guidelines to help communities fluoridate water at an optimal level.

The city will provide updates online about the status of repairs and fluoridation of the water.