Northwest Iowa — Eight northwest Iowa communities are among 107 in the state to be awarded the Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a release from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
In addition, two of the eight communities, Milford Municipal Utilities and Spirit Lake Waterworks have been awarded the 50 Year Award for maintaining continuous community water fluoridation from 1968-2018.
The eight northwest Iowa communities receiving the Water Fluoridation Quality Awards are Hartley, Orange City, Paullina, Rock Valley, Sibley, Spencer, Milford and Spirit Lake.
Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to a level that is effective for preventing tooth decay. The award recognizes those communities that achieved excellence in community water fluoridation by maintaining a consistent level of fluoride in drinking water throughout 2018.
The Iowa Department of Public Health supports CDC approved fluoridation programs. The IDPH Bureau of Oral and Health Delivery Systems monitors the fluoride levels of Iowa communities and provides information and assistance to water supply professionals, healthcare professionals and the public. To see the fluoridation status of Iowa counties and towns, visit the My Water’s Fluoride website at https://nccd.cdc.gov/DOH_MWF.
