11.10.08

M.U.D. receives fluoridation quality award and safety award

Metropolitan Utilities District received the Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) at the Nebraska Section American Water Works Association (AWWA) conference in Kearney, November 6.

The award was presented to M.U.D. for its consistent and professional adjustment of the water fluoride content to the optimum level for oral health for 12 consecutive months.

The maximum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is 4 parts per million (ppm). The District adds fluoride to bring the natural level of about 0.5 ppm to the optimum of 1.0 ppm. Parts per million means one part per million (or milligram per liter) and corresponds to 1 minute in 2 years or 1 penny in $10,000.

"Consistent, high quality water fluoridation practice, as demonstrated by M.U.D., is a safe and effective method to prevent tooth decay, improving the oral health of community residents of all ages," according to the CDC and DHHS.

The CDC proclaimed water fluoridation to be one of the top 10 greatest public health achievements of the past century.

According to the CDC, fluoridation is an effective, safe and inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay and benefits Americans of all ages and socio-economic status. North American water systems have added fluoride to their water supplies since 1945. Since that time, tooth decay was reduced by 20- to 40-percent where fluoridation was implemented.

M.U.D. customers voted for fluoridation in May 1968 and the District began adding fluoride to the water January 22, 1969.

The District's Water Operations Department also received a safety award from the Nebraska Section AWWA.

A customer-owned utility, M.U.D. serves more than 194,809 water and 207,553 natural gas customers in the metro Omaha area.

Other public water suppliers who received the Fluoridation Quality Award included:

• Village of Adams
• City of Albion
• Village of Allen
• City of Auburn
• City of Bassett
• City of Blair
• City of Blue Hill
• Village of Cook
• Village of Emerson
• City of Fairbury
• City of Falls City
• City of Fremont
• City of Gering
• City of Hartington
• City of Holdrege
• City of Kearney
• City of Laurel
• Lincoln Water System
• City of Lyons
• Village of Magnet
• City of Nebraska City
• City of Osmond
• City of Papillion
• City of Plattsmouth
• City of Red Cloud
• City of Scribner
• Village of Stella
• City of Superior
• City of Tilden
• Village of Valparaiso
• Village of Wausa
• City of Waverly
• City of Wayne

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