Fluoride will no longer be added to Orange County’s public drinking water supply starting July 1, 2025, following the passage of new state legislation that prohibits the addition of water quality additives to drinking water systems.
Orange County Utilities (OCU), which has been adding fluoride to its treated water since 2004, announced the change in a June 9 interoffice memorandum. The change is in direct response to Senate Bill 700, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis. The law bans public water systems from adding any water quality additives, including fluoride, which has long been used to reduce tooth decay and improve oral health.
OCU has been maintaining fluoride levels at 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L), in line with recommendations from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Dental Association, and the World Health Organization. The new state law overrides those guidelines, and Orange County Utilities will now rely solely on naturally occurring fluoride in its groundwater sources…