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EPCOR will be postponing the addition of fluoride at our E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plant at this time. The project which began in September 2019 to rehabilitate the fluoridation facilities at E.L. Smith has been delayed due to COVID-19.  EPCOR has made the decision to temporarily postpone commissioning the fluoride system in order to ensure our staff can properly maintain the correct social distancing guidelines during this COVID-19 situation. We will continue to monitor the situation and will evaluate when conditions are safe to allow us to continue adding fluoride back into E.L. Smith's Water Treatment Plant system.

 

Temporary Fluoride Interruption

There will be a temporary fluoride interruption starting September 3, 2019.


We're upgrading one of our Water Treatment Plants to improve capacity and continue to deliver great tasting, quality water to you. While we complete these upgrades there will be a temporary interruption in our E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plant fluoridation system beginning September 3, 2019.

We anticipate the interruption will last for approximately seven months while construction on the upgrade takes place.

Areas that will temporarily not have fluoride in their water

The temporary interruption of fluoridation will happen in the area surrounding our E.L. Smith Water Treatment plant and in communities North and West of the City of Edmonton who also receive EPCOR water at the tap. We have indicated the areas on the Fluoride Interruption Map or you can view our detailed list of Edmonton neighbourhoods affected.

Our Regional Water Customers

There are several municipalities that receive their water from our E.L. Smith plant. The following municipalities will have their fluoride temporarily interrupted: Beaumont, Leduc, Morinville, Nisku, Onoway, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Stony Plain, and Sturgeon County. For a full listing view our detailed list of affected regional communities.

If you have any questions about how your water is distributed please contact your municipality.

​Map of areas that will temporarily not have fluoride in their water.

 

How to get enough fluoride when it's not in your drinking water

Alberta Health Services (AHS) has recommended using a fluoridated toothpaste and scheduling a regular dental checkup during the temporary interruption. AHS always recommends eating healthy foods that are low in sugar to help fight against cavities and other dental health issues.

 

Is water without fluoride safe to drink?

During this temporary interruption the water is perfectly safe to drink. There will be no change in taste or colour, the only difference will be the absence of fluoride providing additional dental health benefits.

A girl brushing her teeth with a fluoride toothpaste.

The reason fluoride is in your tap water

Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that exists in fresh water and is known to prevent tooth decay.

EPCOR has been fluoridating Edmonton's water since 1966. EPCOR is directed to fluoridate Edmonton's drinking water by City Council.  Water fluoridation is considered by health authorities to be a safe and effective public health measure. It is regarded as the easiest, most practical way to improve dental health.

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​The amount of fluoride in Edmonton water

The North Saskatchewan River has naturally occurring fluoride levels of approximately 0.1 ppm. In Edmonton, where we operate two water treatment plants, fluoride is added to the treated water to increase the concentration to the optimal and approved Health Canada guideline level of 0.7 ppm.

If you want to learn more about fluoride, check out our Facts About Fluoride page.

Information on the health benefits of fluoride

If you have questions or want more information on the health benefits of fluoride, please contact Alberta Health Services' Health Link 24/7 by dialing 811 or visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca

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