City of Cedar Rapids Doesn’t Plan on Changing Fluoride Levels in Tap Water

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By Kelli Sutterman

Story Created: Jan 11, 2011 at 11:38 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 11, 2011 at 11:38 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - For nearly 50 years water treatment plants have added fluoride to tap water. But now the government says it might be too much of a good thing.

Fluoride has been credited with cutting the numbers of cavities Americans get in half. But two in five American teenagers have permanent streaking on their teeth from too much fluoride.

Government officials have considered recommending lower levels in tap water to less than 0.7 milligrams per liter.

Cedar Rapids adds more than that now, and is not planning on making changes just yet.

"We are happy to reduce fluoride as long as we know it will positively affect our treatment process,” said City Cedar Rapids employee Megan Murphy.

Murphy says reducing fluoride levels would save the city money, but would also require officials to tweak the entire system.

Those adjustments could take some time and the city says it needs the go-ahead from the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Natural Resources.

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