The Iowa Department of Public Health announced today that 108 water systems in Iowa have been awarded Water Fluoridation Quality Awards from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, five communities (Forest City Water Supply, Glidden Water Supply, Manilla Municipal Service Department, Osage Municipal Water Supply, and Paullina Municipal Water Supply) have been awarded the 50 Year Award for maintaining continuous community water fluoridation from 1969-2019. For 2019, a total of 1,523 public water systems in 29 states received these awards.
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Public Health announced today that 108 water systems in Iowa have been awarded Water Fluoridation Quality Awards from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, five communities (Forest City Water Supply, Glidden Water Supply, Manilla Municipal Service Department, Osage Municipal Water Supply, and†Paullina Municipal Water Supply) have been awarded the 50 Year Award for maintaining continuous community water fluoridation from 1969-2019. For 2019, a total of 1,523 public water systems in 29 states received these awards.
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 2019.
"Iowa water operators have a big impact on the oral health of their community by adjusting the fluoride of their water system to the optimal level for preventing cavities," said Dr. Bob Russell, DDS, Dental Director, Iowa Department of Public Health.
"Water fluoridation is one of the best investments that a community can make in maintaining the oral health of its citizens. It is equally as effective in preventing cavities in children and adults," said Casey Hannan, MPH, Director, CDC Division of Oral Health. "Fluoridation is also highly cost effective. Studies continue to show that for every $1 a community invests in water fluoridation, $20 are saved in dental treatment costs."
Community water fluoridation has been recognized by CDC as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century. CDC recommends water fluoridation as one of the most practical, cost-effective, equitable, and safe measures a community can take to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health.
It is supported by the American Cancer Society, American Dental Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Water Works Association and over 100 national and international organizations as a safe, effective and inexpensive method of preventing tooth decay. Both Healthy People 2030 and Healthy Iowans 2021 have set goals to increase the number of people receiving optimally fluoridated water.
IDPH 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 WaterÃs Fluoride website at https://nccd.cdc.gov/DOH_MWF.
Community water systems receiving the award:
Albert City
Leon
Algona
Logan
Atlantic
Lone Tree
Audubon
Madrid
Bellevue
Mahaska Rural Water System
Bennett
Malvern
Boone
Manchester
Britt
Manilla
Burlington
Marshalltown
Carlisle
Mason City
Carroll
Milford
Casey
Minden
Cedar Falls
Missouri Valley
Cedar Rapids
Montezuma
Central Water Supply
Neveda
Corning
Newton
Council Bluffs
Northwood
Cresco
Orange City
Creston
Osage
Decorah
Osceola
Denison
Oskaloosa
Des Moines
Paullina
Dexter
Pella
Dubuque
Perry
Durant
Postville
Eagle Grove
Rathbun Regional Water Association, Inc
Eddyville
Regional Water
Eldora
Riverside
Eldridge
Rock Valley
Elk Horn
Schaller
Emmetsburg
Scranton
Estherville
Shelby (2)
Forest City
Shenandoah
Fort Madison
Sibley
Garner
Sioux City
Glenwood
Sloan
Glidden
Solon (2)
Greenfield
Spencer
Griswold
Spirit Lake
Guthrie Center
Tama
Hampton
Terril
Harlan
Thompson
Hawarden
Tipton
Huxley
University of Iowa
Iowa American Water
Company (Clinton and Davenport)
Van Meter
Iowa City
Ventura
Iowa Falls (2)
Wapello
Iowa Lakes Regional Water
Wapello Rural Water Association
Jefferson
Waterloo
Kalona
West Central Rural Water-Boyer
Kanawha
West Central –Nishnabotna
Keokuk
Winterset
Lake Mills
Woodbine
Lamoni