On Nov. 14, 2021, the Calgary city council voted to reinstate fluoridation in Calgary’s waters. The count was not close, with 13 of a possible 15 council members deciding in favour of the motion. This decision followed a plebiscite held on October 18, in which the prospect of reintroducing fluoride in the water supply was back on the ballot for the first time in 10 years.

The natural chemicals are well known to reduce tooth decay and strengthen enamel in adults and children. According to the CDC, drinking fluoridated water is estimated to increase tooth health by 25 per cent. Additionally, community fluoridation is the most cost-efficient way to ensure long-term dental health within a city.

The city estimates the natural level of fluoride in both the Bow and Elbow Rivers can fluctuate between 0.1 mg/L and 0.4 mg/L, depending on the time of year. While these levels do provide tangible benefits to teeth, it is not enough to provide local communities with the strength listed above.

Fluoridation was first proposed to Calgarians in a 1957 plebiscite. Despite their contemporaries implementing fluoridation, Calgarians voted to keep it out of the water, a trend that would remain consistent for 32 years.

In 1989, more than three decades since it was first proposed, Calgarians were asked for a fifth time whether or not the city should implement the practice. This time, however, residents leaned in favour of upping the concentration of fluoride in the rivers, a historic first for the city.  Fluoridation in the city began two years later at an approximate concentration of 1.0 mg/L.

In 2011, the most recent vote on fluoridation lead to its ousting. This decision was made by city council and was met with controversy due to lack of a public plebiscite, along with former mayor Naheed Nenshi being out of town amidst the decision.

On October 18, 2021, residents were polled on whether the city should renovate the now-outdated facilities and bring back fluoridation within the city. In the end, 62 per cent of citizens voted in favour of fluoridation. Despite the decisive vote, this was a non-binding plebiscite which left things in council’s hands. The deliberation was held on November 14, with the overwhelming majority of council members voting to officially bring it back. Fluoridation was expected to begin by 2023, but was delayed. The newly installed equipment at Calgary’s two water treatment plants and the reintroduction of fluoride was expected in the second quarter of 2025.