H2knOw: The Truth about Fluoride in Louisville’s Drinking Water

Louisville Water is an anchor for public health, providing drinking water to nearly one million people in our service area every day. We recognize the importance of drinking water to overall health, specifically for good oral hygiene, and we use science to support our work.

In recent years, questions about fluoride in drinking water and even toothpaste have surfaced. Grand Rapids, Michigan was the first U.S. city to introduce fluoridation in 1945. It wasn’t until 1951 following other cities that Louisville Water began fluoridating the city’s drinking water with a goal of preventing tooth decay.

So, what exactly is fluoridation? It essentially means adjusting the amount of fluoride that is naturally present in water. Through a regulation enforced by the Kentucky Department of Public Health, all Kentucky public water utilities serving populations greater than 3,000 are required to adjust the fluoride levels of treated water for dental health to between 0.6 and 1.2 parts per million (ppm). Louisville Pure Tap® contains an average level of 0.6-0.7 ppm.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes community water fluoridation as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.  Approximately 74% of the U.S. population served by a community water system receives fluoridated tap water.

In 2002, Louisville Water along with the University of Louisville School of Dentistry, the Louisville Dental Society, Colgate and others created Smile Kentucky®, a community partnership to provide dental education, screenings and treatment to children in Louisville Metro and surrounding counties. improve children’s oral health.

Legislation regarding fluoride choice is expected to be considered during Kentucky’s 2025 legislative session in Frankfort.

In full transparency, Louisville Water was one of seven organizations that signed a letter of support in 2024 to continue water fluoridation programs in Kentucky. Other entities who signed it include the Kentucky Dental Association and Kentucky Oral Health Coalition.