City once again fluoridating drinking water after receiving recent shipment of sodium fluoride

posted on 7/5/2022; updated 7/25/2022

The City of Dover is again fluoridating the city's drinking water after receiving a shipment on July 21. The city's supply was previously exhausted in early July, and Community Services was unable to obtain more due to a nationwide shortage. 

The city's has added fluoride to its optimal target concentration level of 0.7 mg/L in the water system, as state and federal guidelines recommend. The City of Dover public water system also includes some Madbury, Rollinsford and Somersworth customers.

Fluoride is not required for safe drinking water but instead used as a health benefit. Dover has added sodium fluoride into the water system since 1990, following its approval by voters through a ballot referendum question in the 1987 municipal election. Per state law, adding or removing fluoride from a public water system is allowed following the written petition of 10% of registered voters of all municipalities served by the water system and a majority vote by those voters at a city election or town meeting.

For more information, contact Community Services at 603-516-6450.