Calgary will resume adding fluoride to its drinking water system beginning June 30, 2025, following a 2021 plebiscite in which 62 per cent of voters supported fluoridation.
Fluoride levels in the Bow and Elbow Rivers will be supplemented to reach 0.7 milligrams per litre, as recommended by Health Canada. The measure is intended to help prevent dental cavities and improve oral health, particularly for those with limited access to dental care.
The initiative aligns Calgary with other Alberta municipalities such as Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Red Deer that already fluoridate their water supplies. It also has the support of Health Canada, Alberta Health Services, and the Public Health Agency of Canada, among others.
To support the reintroduction, Calgary completed infrastructure upgrades at its water treatment plants, costing $28.1 million. Ongoing annual operating and maintenance costs are estimated at $1 million. These expenses are covered by existing Council-approved water rates, with no impact on property taxes. The cost per resident is expected to be under 10 cents per month.
Calgary’s history with water fluoridation spans more than six decades, marked by multiple public votes and policy changes. The issue first appeared on the ballot in 1957, and Calgarians voted against it in four successive plebiscites held in 1957, 1961, 1966, and 1971.
In 1989, public sentiment shifted when a majority voted in favour of fluoridation. By 1991, fluoride was introduced into Calgary’s water supply at a target concentration of 1.0 milligrams per litre. A further review in 1998 by the City and Alberta Health Services led to a recommendation to reduce the level to 0.7 mg/L. This change was implemented in 1999 after a second plebiscite showed 55 per cent support for continuing the practice.
However, in May 2011, Calgary City Council voted to discontinue fluoridation, despite earlier public support.
The topic returned to the ballot during the 2021 municipal election. With 62 per cent support, the plebiscite led to the Council directing the administration to proceed with reinstating fluoridation.