MLGW's Water Supply and Flouride

We are extremely proud of our crystal clear water at MLGW. At times, residents are given confusing or bad information about our water supply and fluoride. Here are a few frequently asked questions that we get:

Q: What is fluoride?

A: Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is present in all bodies of water – rivers, lakes, springs and wells.

Q: Why does MLGW add fluoride to the water?

A: Fluoride prevents tooth decay. The Memphis City Council passed an ordinance in 1969 mandating MLGW start adding fluoride to the city’s water supply. By 1971, Memphis voters endorsed the City Council’s action and passed a referendum to continue the practice.

Q: If fluoride is already in our water supply, why do we add to it?

A: We adjust the natural level of fluoride to a level that is optimal for our oral health. Naturally occurring fluoride is tiny. In Tennessee’s water sources, it is between 0.1 to 0.2 parts per million. Groundwater is usually below 0.1 parts per million.

Q: How much fluoride do we add to our water supply?

A: We follow state and federal recommendations. We add 0.7 parts per million. That amount is equivalent to less than four drops in a 55-gallon barrel of water.

Q: Is the practice of adjusting fluoride levels in community drinking water widely recognized as a safe and effective public health benefit?

A: YES. More than 70 years of research supports that community water fluoridation is both safe and effective. The American Dental Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Academy of General Dentistry and the World Health Organization are just a few of the groups that endorse water fluoridation.

Q: Is fluoride bad?

A: NO. Since MLGW began adding fluoride to the city’s water supply in the early 1970s, no customer has proven that their health has been adversely affected by drinking our fluoridated water.

Q: Where does our water come from?

A: Unlike our neighboring cities of St. Louis and New Orleans which draw and treat water from the Mississippi River, Memphis draws from the Memphis Aquifer, an underground source. The aquifer is as deep as having two 34-story high rise office buildings, like Clark Tower in East Memphis, stacked on top of one another.

Q: How does our water rate with other cities?

A: MLGW provides some of the best drinking water in the world. Our water meets all local, state and federal regulations for safe drinking water. Plus, our residential water rates are among the lowest in the country. Among 34 metro areas, we rank second behind Orlando, FL.