The City of San Diego began fluoridating all its drinking water in February 2011. This also affects the cities of Coronado, Del Mar and Imperial Beach. The City of San Diego's fluoridation program was approved by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). This program includes strict monthly reporting to California State Water Resources Control Board.
California state law requires water agencies with more than 10,000 water service connections (which includes the City of San Diego) fluoridate their drinking water supplies. However, a public water system is exempt from fluoridating until sufficient outside funding is available. Both the California Attorney General and the City Attorney's Office opined that when sufficient funding became available, San Diego Municipal Code Section 67.0101, which prohibits the City from fluoridation, would be preempted by state law.
In June 2008, the San Diego City Council accepted an offer of funding from the First 5 Commission of San Diego County for the purpose of fluoridating the City's public water supply. The Commission's offer of up to $3,927,016 is for full funding of the capital costs and up to two years of operating and maintenance expenses necessary to implement fluoridation at each of the City's three water treatment plants. As a result of state law and the availability of funding, the City began fluoridating its public water supply in February 2011.
San Diego supplements naturally-occurring fluoride in our drinking water to meet the standards established by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The fluoride level in our area is 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L) meeting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended fluoride dose. The City uses fluorosilicic acid, a chemical certified under ANSI/NSF Standard 60 and approved by CDPH.
- CDC's fluoride info page
- ADA's fluoride info page
- EPA's fluoride info page
- DrinkTap.org fluoride info page
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- San Diego County Water Authority
- American Dental Association
- State of California Department of Public Health
- County of San Diego Health and Human Services
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
- California Dental Association (PDF)