NYC Wastes $5 - $20 Million 0n Useless Fluoridation, Yearly

New York City spent in excess of $5,363,803 on water fluoridation in 2025, excluding salaries and benefits of employees assigned to the fluoridation program, according to an April 24, 2026, freedom of information request. However, we were given more information in 2008 that included costs of employees. NYC has been fluoridated since 1965.

The $5.3 million that is reported for 2025 include:

a) Hydrofluosilicic acid and neutralization chemicals to reduce acidity of fluoridation chemicals

b) Chemicals and other supplies need to test the fluoride levels

c) Maintenance, paperwork, repairs, new parts

d) Analysis of samples

e) Protective gear

A similar FOIA request made in 2008 included cost of employees’ salaries:

a) Thirteen employees worked full time in connection with fluoridation program was reported in our FOIA request back then.

b) Sixteen employees worked parttime “operating, supervising, sampling, conducting analytical work and performing maintenance, and repairs

c) “There are an additional 3 employees assigned to Laboratory Operations on a part-time basis (not listed in a and b above) that are involved in monitoring the fluoridation equipment to prevent malfunction or failure”

d) Personnel salaries (full-time)

i.) Watershed Maintainers - $46,784.00/$514,624.00

ii.) Supervisor of Watershed Maintenance $56,613.00/$113,226.00

This information wasn’t supplied in our newest FOIA request. Instead, our request for this information, first made in December 2025, was denied with this phrase “Not reasonably described to perform a search as required by POL 89(3).”

One can assume the number of employees involved in NYC’s fluoridation program are similar, but salaries and cost of benefits increased over the years. So, the $5.3 million is a very conservative number for the cost of fluoridation yearly in NYC.

Despite this enormous expense - maybe $20 million a year, tooth decay is rampant in New York City children.

“In NYC, more than one in three third-grade students have untreated tooth decay…[and] one in four adults ages 65 and older have no teeth, according to the NYC Dept of Health.

The NYC Dept of Health reports: (and despite water fluoridation, fluoride treatments, sealants, increased dental visits and home use of fluoride toothpaste).

“The prevalence of dental caries among children ages 2 to 12 increased from 25% in 2015 to 31% in 2019.”

“Among NYC children ages 2 to 13, 32% had experienced dental caries (2019). 37% of NYC public middle school students (2018) and 45% of public high school students (2019) experienced caries.”

Copies of our 2008/2009 FOIA Request for NYC Fluoridation Costs. Page 1 and Page 2

Original reply to our newest FOIA request dated 2026

Keep in mind that without fluoridation and hardly any other fluoride use, Nordic Countries and Japan have much lower decay rates than in the US. Also highly fluoridated countries and US states have high rates of tooth decay. References here.

Tooth decay is an indication of low-socioeconomic-status and has nothing to do with water fluoridation rates as this chart of the US reflects

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