Sheldon, Iowa — Sheldon and Rock Valley are two of 63 Iowa communities that have been honored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with a Water Fluoridation Quality Award, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. The number of communities receiving awards is up from 40 last year.
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 2015.
According to IDPH Fluoridation Coordinator Kelsey Feller, water fluoridation is one of the best investments that communities can make in maintaining the oral health of their citizens. Feller says it is equally as effective in preventing cavities in children and adults. Feller says fluoridation is also highly cost effective; studies continue to show that for every $1 invested by communities in water fluoridation, $38 are saved in dental treatment costs, according to Keller.
For more information on the water fluoridation in Iowa, visit the Iowa Department of Public Health website by clicking here.
Communities receiving awards include:
Albert City Municipal Water Supply
Allison Water Supply
Arlington Water Supply
Atlantic Municipal Utilities
Bancroft Water Supply
Belle Plaine Water Department
Bellevue Municipal Utilities
Bennett Water Works
Boone Water Works
Breda Water Supply
Britt Water Works
Burlington Municipal Water Works
Clarion Water Supply
Council Bluffs Water Works
Decorah Water Department
Elk Horn Municipal Water Works
Estherville Water Treatment Plant
Forest City Water Supply
Garner Water Works
Glenwood Municipal Utilities
Guthrie Center Municipal Water Works
Harlan Municipal Utilities
Hiawatha Water Department
Ida Grove Water Utility
Iowa City Water Department
Iowa Falls Water Department – Pine Street Plant
Iowa Falls Water Department – Elk Run Plant
Kalona Water Department
Kanawha Water Supply
Keokuk Municipal Water Works
Lamoni Municipal Utilities
Logan Water Plant
Manchester Water Supply
Manly Water Supply
Marshalltown Water Works
Mason City Water Department
Minden Water Supply
Mitchellville Water Supply
Monona Municipal Water Department
Montezuma Municipal Water Supply
Newton Water Works
Onawa Municipal Water Plant
Pella Water Works Department
Regional Water
Rock Valley Water Supply
Scranton Water System
Shelby Water Supply-Plant 1
Shelby Water Supply-Plant 4
Sheldon Water Department
Sloan Water Supply
Spirit Lake Water Works
Terril Municipal Water Works
Treynor Water Department
University of Iowa Water System
Van Meter Municipal Water Works
Ventura Water Works
Vinton Municipal Water Department
Waterloo Water Works
Waverly Water Department
West Central Iowa Rural Water Association – Boyer
West Central Iowa Rural Water Association – Nishnabotna
Whittemore Municipal Water Supply
Winterset Municipal Water Works
