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Sewerage & Water Board Of New Orleans
Community & Intergovernmental Relations Department
625 St. Joseph Street, Room B-47
New Orleans, Louisiana 70165
504-585-2175
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August 15, 2007
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To: News Media
From: Sewerage & Water Board
Re: Fluoride
Contact: Robert Jackson, 269-7978, or Brenda Thornton, 269-7819
Release: Immediately
S&WB Again Unable to Add Fluoride to Water
The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans is running out
of fluoride and will not be able to add any to the water supply Thursday
because a new supply cannot be found.
The Board resumed adding fluoride to the treatment process
on August 1, 2007, nearly two years after it had stopped its use because of a
nationwide shortage. At that time approximately 4,000 gallons of fluoride was purchased, but that supply is now running out.
It is possible that the Board could often experience periods
like this without fluoride until an annual contract can be entered into. Whenever fluoride is not available for the water system, the public will be notified.
Dental and medical studies have consistently shown that the
addition of fluoride at recommended levels contributes greatly to the dental
health of a population and it has been the policy of the Board to perform this
treatment since June of 1974, when fluoride addition began in Orleans Parish.
