Drinking Water

The Canadian city reversed its fluoridation decision after child cavities surged. Is Florida, facing dental shortages, repeating the same mistake?

An AP review found nearly 70% of the parks that run their own systems violated safe drinking water rules over a recent five-year stretch. That's higher than utilities that supply water for cities and towns.

The city said it believed the November samples were flawed and did not take further action. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection objected and told the city to retest, which it did last month.

The water supplier for Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties doesn't yet know how much it'll cost to get slightly elevated levels of PFAS filtered out of a few of its water sources.

Many children in Florida lack access to routine dental care. According to data from the Florida Department of Health, nearly 1 in 3 third-graders had cavities during the 2021–22 school year.

The FDA's announced changes will offer utilities more flexibility to comply with regulations that could come at a cost to public and environmental health.

President Trump has sought fewer environmental rules and more oil and gas development. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has carried out that agenda by announcing massive regulatory rollbacks.

Local governments will be no longer be allowed to put fluoride in tap water starting July 1. The provision part of a wide-ranging “Florida Farm Bill,” which includes a number of provisions geared toward helping farmers.

The U.S Navy continues its investigation into PFAS contamination in off-base drinking water wells, conducting testing and providing mitigation.

The bill, heading to the governor after House passage, doesn't specifically reference fluoride, but it will require the mineral and some other health additives be removed from public drinking water.

The proposed ban, included in a broad bill dealing with the Agriculture Department, comes after decades of communities adding fluoride to water to help prevent dental problems.

When roll call was taken, commissioners Leo Longworth, Gary Ball and Laura Simpson decided to stick with fluoride. Tanya Tucker and Mayor Trish Burdin-Pfeiffer voted no.