On Jun. 30, 2025, Fluoride was reintroduced into the drinking water in Alberta’s largest city nearly four years after Calgarians voted in support in a plebiscite on the matter in the last municipal election. Calgary city council voted in favour of adding fluoride to the city’s water supply in November 2021, after a plebiscite during that year’s municipal election resulted in 62 per cent of Calgarians voting in support.

The move required a series of upgrades at both of Calgary’s water treatment plants at a cost of $28.1 million. The reintroduction of fluoride will also require $1 million in annual operating spending, which the city said is funded through water rates.

Although there is fluoride naturally in the Bow and Elbow rivers in low concentrations — between 0.1 and 0.4 milligrams per litre — the city said it is adding a consistent concentration to reach 0.7 mg/L, which is recommended by Health Canada to enhance oral health.

City officials added that the reintroduction of fluoride has no impact on the taste or smell of drinking water.

Juliet Guichon, a professor in the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, told Global News that studies show dental decay rose significantly in children in Calgary — after fluoride was removed — compared to Edmonton where the water remained fluoridated.