Fluoridation:
Brief History of Fluoridation in California & San Diego
In 1995, State Senator Jackie Speier authored AB 733, the Fluoridation Act, which provided for the fluoridation of water systems with 10,000 service connections or more.
Prior to the implementation of AB 733, California was ranked 48th in the nation in the number of residents receiving community water fluoridation.
Subsequent to the Fluoridation Act, the California Endowment allocated $15 million to the Fluoridation Work Group to develop community support for fluoridation and allocate capital funds to selected communities. The Work Group members included: The California Dental Association, The California Department of Health Services, The Dental Health Foundation and the California Fluoridation Task Force. As a result of this project, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Santa Maria, Escondido and other communities now fluoridate their water supply. San Diego remains the largest city in California and the nation without the benefit of optimal community water fluoridation.
In 2000, under the direction of Mayor Susan Golding, the San Diego City council voted to accept funds from the Fluoridation 2000 Work Group and proceed with the design and installation of fluoridation equipment. The San Diego Fluoridation Coalition, which includes over 100 community based organizations and leaders, had paved the way for the 8-1 vote by the San Diego City Council. Unfortunately, contract negotiations between the City and the California Dental Association Foundation (CDAF) stalled when CDAF was unable to indemnify the City for possible future legal costs.
In 2002, the 43-member Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) voted to fluoridate their water supply. This effort received support from the City of San Diego. The fluoridation of MWD was the result of nearly a decade of advocacy by fluoridation proponents. The MWD customer base is roughly 18 million residents, however, only those systems which purchase treated water from MWD will receive fluoridated water. In San Diego, approximately 15-26% of the City’s water will be fluoridated when MWD begins fluoridation, currently slated for Fall 2007. Most of this fluoridated water will be blended with the City’s non-fluoridated water. In addition, most of San Diego County to the north and east of the City will receive optimally fluoridated water. [see map and Status of Fluoridation page]
In 2004, Senator Dede Alpert authored “clean up” legislation (SB 96) to address the contractual issues encountered in San Diego and other communities when awards for capital equipment were made. Passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, SB 96 provides for: 1) reasonable cost estimates as reviewed by a state appointed engineer, 2) a water system to fluoridate only the water it treats, thus avoiding the high cost of fluoridating water imported from wholesale distributors, and 3) the exclusion of reimbursement for potential legal costs. All of the above provisions will streamline the contractual process in San Diego and other water districts when funds become available.
Several legal issues have come before the California courts regarding fluoridation. One of those cases emanated from the fluoridation of Escondido; the other from Watsonville. In 2001, the Escondido City Council overturned its 1999 ban opposing fluoridation and voted to accept funds to fluoridate. A lawsuit was filed against Escondido and the State of California in October of 2004. In 2005, the State Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision, ruling in favor of Escondido and the State of California. In October of 2005, the State Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal.
The Northern California City of Watsonville has an ordinance which opposes fluoridation resulting from a ballot initiative passed in 2002. The initiative was narrowly passed by the voters subsequent to a capital award made to the City, which would have enabled them to install the required equipment. The appellate court upheld the ruling of the lower court in favor of the State Department of Health Services; confirming that the State fluoridation law supersedes the local ordinance. The City of Watsonville appealed the case to the California Supreme Court. The Supreme Court refused to hear the case, upholding the appellate court ruling.
The sequence of events described above illustrates the complex and lengthy pathway common to achieving fluoridation in California communities. As a result of these recent legal and legislative efforts, a renewed effort to bring the benefits of water fluoridation to San Diego residents is underway.
Please see the detailed description and map of the San Diego County Water Authority illustrating the areas of the county which will receive fluoridated water when MWD implements fluoridation in Fall 2007. It is important to note that while most City of San Diego residents will not receive any fluoridated water, a small number will receive optimally fluoridated water, while some will receive suboptimal fluoridation due to the blending of MWD treated water with the non-fluoridated water provided by the City’s three treatment plants.
Since it is anticipated that the MWD Skinner plant serving San Diego County will begin fluoridation of its treated water in the Fall of 2007, now is the time to renew efforts to create the infrastructure needed for an equitable distribution to all the City’s residents. This will avoid confusion over the suboptimal levels of fluoridation and its scattered distribution to City customers.
Supplemental Information
•September 1999 – The County Science Advisory Board (SAB) assessed the scientific merits and health benefits of adjusting the natural fluoride level throughout the county making the following recommendation: “All of the available data show that water fluoridation is a safe and effective way of preventing dental cavities. San Diego is currently the largest region in the U.S. without this public health measure. The SAB strongly recommends that San Diego County implements the fluoridation of its water supply.” [you can access the report on this website]
November 2000 – The 1999-2000 County Grand Jury determined fluoridation is safe, effective and needed countywide. The Jury recommended the County Board of Supervisors (BOS) seek funding and assist all water districts to fund fluoridation. They further recommended that the BOS and water districts work with the County Water Authority to seek cost reductions.
•The San Diego Fluoridation Coalition – Formed in 1995, the coalition brings community and government leaders together in support of water fluoridation. Through community education, networking and partnerships with organizations such as the PTA, Children’s Hospital and United Way, the Coalition targeted Escondido, the Helix Water District and the City of San Diego while working closely with the San Diego County Water Authority. [see list of Coalition organizations; please contact the Coalition to add your personal or group endorsement or to provide a financial contribution. ]
In January 2011 fluoridation was completed in the City of San Diego.
San Diego Fluoridation Coalition Contact Information :
sandiegosmiles@cox.net
phone/fax: 619-444-6463
address:
c/o San Diego Dental Health Foundation
1275 W. Morena Blvd. – Suite B,
San Diego, CA 92110
Richard Hancock, DDS, Chair
Ellie Nadler, RDH,MPH, Executive Director
SAN DIEGO FLUORIDATION COALITION
IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, FLUORIDATION IS ENDORSED BY:
(letters on file; list in-formation; as of June 2007)
Access Center of San Diego, Inc.
Adult Protective Services
Aging & Independence Services, S. D. County Advisory Board
Alliance to the San Diego County Dental Society
Alpha of San Diego, Inc. (Community Center Programs)
American Academy of Pediatrics, Chap. 3, San Diego
American Indian Health Center, San Diego
Anderson Center for Dental Care at Children's Hospital
Atkins, Toni, San Diego City Council, District 3
Barrio Station
Big Sister League, Inc.
Black Nurses Association, Inc., San Diego
Boys and Girls Clubs of Chula Vista & Imperial Beach
Boys and Girls Clubs of Escondido & Ramona
Boys and Girls Club of Inland North County
Boys and Girls Clubs of San Diego
Calif. Environmental Health Assoc., Southwest Chapter
California School Nurses, San Diego/Imperial Section
Cancer Immunotherapy & Gene Therapy Institute
Casa Familiar
Celebrate The Family Committee - El Cajon
Chamber of Commerce, East County Regional
Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Regional
Chicano Federation of San Diego County
Children's Dental Health Association of San Diego
Children's Dental Health Center, San Diego
Children's Hospital and Health Center
Children's Initiative Steering Group
Chinese Center, San Diego
Community Health Group
Council of Community Clinics
County of S.D.Comm’n on Children, Youth and Families
County of S.D., Health & Human Services Agency
County of San Diego, Health Services Advisory Board
County of San Diego, Science Advisory Board
Crisis House - Social Services Program
Davis, Susan, Rep.U.S. Congress
Deaf Community Services
Delta Dental Plan of California
Department of The Navy, Naval Dental Center
Dietetic Assoc. of California, San Diego Section
East County Community Health Services
El Cajon City Council
Employee Assistance Professionals Assoc. San Diego
Episcopal Community Services
Escondido Community Child Development Center
Escondido Community Health Center
Escondido Pediatrics, Nick Tsoulos, M.D.
Family Service Association of San Diego County
Foster Family Agencies, San Diego Association
Foster Investment Corporation
Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council
Girls Inc./Girls Incorporated of Vista
Golding, Susan, Former Mayor, City of San Diego
Grossmont Healthcare District
Grossmont Hospital Department of Pediatrics
Head Injury Foundation, San Diego
Health Coalition for Children and Youth, San Diego
Healthcare Assoc. of San Diego & Imperial Counties
Heartland Human Relations Association
Hispanic Dental Association
Home Start: A Child Abuse Prevention Agency
Hoover High Health & Social Services Center
Imperial Beach City Council
Indian Child and Family Services
Indian Human Resource Center, Inc.
International Mutual Assistance Association
Inzunza, Ralph, Former San Diego City Council Member
Japanese American Citizens League
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Johnson, Walter C., DDS, Inc., Escondido
Kaiser Permanente
Kalusugan Community Services (Filipino American)
KFMB Stations AM/FM/TV Editorials: 7/6&10/26/95
Kiwanis Club of Old San Diego
La Mesa West Collaborative
La Mesa Pediatrics, Phillip Szold, M.D.
La Mesa-Spring Valley Teachers Association
Latino Health Council of San Diego
Lemon Grove Project
Linda Vista Health Care Center
Logan Heights Family Health Center
MAAC Project Head Start
Madrid, Art; Mayor La Mesa
McCarty, Judy; Former San Diego City Council Member
Mercy Healthcare San Diego
Naval Medical Center, San Diego
Neighborhood House Association
Ninth District PTA
North County Health Services
Older Women's League, San Diego County Chapter
Partners for Community Access
Peters, Scott, San Diego City Council, District 1
Pharmacists Association, San Diego County
Poison Control, Calif. System; San Diego Division
Polinsky Children's Center, County of San Diego
Por La Vida, San Diego State University Foundation
Proyecto Sonristas/Colaborativo SABER
Regional Perinatal System, S.D./Imperial Counties
Rotary Club, Kearny Mesa
Saint Clare's Home
Saltman, Dr. Paul, Dept. Biology, UCSD (deceased)
San Diego City Council
San Diego County Dental Assistants Society
San Diego County Dental Health Coalition
San Diego County Dental Health Foundation
San Diego County Dental Hygienists' Society
San Diego County Dental Society
San Diego County Medical Society
San Diego State Graduate School of Public Health
San Diego Union-Tribune, Editorials, 11/7/95;3/24/99
San Ysidro Community Health Center
SAY, San Diego, Inc., (Social Advocates for Youth)
School Nursing Services Resource Group, S.D. County
Society For Public Health Education, SD County
Soroptomist International of La Mesa
South Bay Community Services
Spring Valley Youth & Family Coalition
St. James & St. Leo Catholic Community
St. Vincent De Paul Village
Trowbridge, Dr. Ian S., Cancer Biology, Salk Institute,ret.
United Way of San Diego County
Univ. of Calif., SD Medical Center, Dept. of Pediatrics
Urban League, San Diego
Vargas, Juan, Former Member California State Assembly
Veterinary Medical Association, San Diego County
Vista Community Clinic
Youth and Community Services, San Diego
Youth Service Network
PLUS OVER 12,000 INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS