Engineering and Operations
Activities include—
Water Fluoridation Training Programs
CDC provides water fluoridation training designed to
build the capability of state fluoridation programs and to help water
treatment professionals develop and refine their skills related to
operations. Courses include a 3-day annual training on the Principles
and Practice of Water Fluoridation and a newly developed 6-hour water
plant operator training course template designed for use by state fluoridation
programs. More information on these
training programs may be found at the CDC-sponsored training page.
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My Water's Fluoride
My Water's Fluoride (MWF)
helps consumers in participating states to learn basic information
about their water system, including the number of people served by the
system and the target fluoridation level. Information for MWF is provided on
a voluntary basis by states that participate in the Water Fluoridation
Reporting System (WFRS). More than 39 state health departments and two tribal organizations
currently participate in My
Water's Fluoride. Oral Health
Maps provides geographic analysis of water fluoridation on a state or
county level.
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Engineering and
Administrative Recommendations for Water Fluoridation
Engineering and Administrative Recommendations for Water
Fluoridation, 1995. MMWR, September 29, 1995;44(RR–13):1–40 (PDF–338KB) provides specific recommendations
for water fluoridation, including administration, monitoring and
surveillance, technical requirements, and safety procedures for
community public water supply systems.
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Fluoride Proficiency Testing Program
CDC's Division of Oral Health operates a Water Fluoride Laboratory Proficiency Testing
(PT) Program
that state reference laboratories can use to verify the accuracy of
their measurement of fluoride in drinking water. This system helps to
assure the quality of fluoridated water being provided through water
systems throughout the United States. The results of this program are
provided directly to the participating laboratories and state oral
health programs.
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Water Fluoridation Reporting System
The
Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS) is the main tool used by CDC to help state and tribal water
fluoridation programs. WFRS also is the basis for national reports on
the percentage of the U.S. population receiving fluoridated drinking
water. State and tribal officials approved by the state dental director
or a tribal authority can participate in this password-protected system,
entering state fluoridation data, and printing operational reports.
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Technical Assistance to State Programs
CDC provides technical assistance to state programs regarding
engineering support, facility management, and operational support and
also provides responses to public health-related questions on community
water fluoridation. CDC serves as a resource to other federal government agencies, state programs, and professional organizations
and associations.
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Awards for Outstanding Fluoridation Efforts
CDC recognizes water systems that achieve optimal fluoridation levels
for all 12 months each year with the annual Quality Award. Water systems
that adjust the water fluoride level within the optimum range in a sustained
manner are eligible for this award if their state documents the performance
in the CDC Water Fluoridation Reporting System.
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Water Facility Operator
Fluoridation Poster
CDC has prepared state-specific resource posters for use by water
facility operators. The poster provides important information to water
treatment facilities
using dry additives or fluorosilicic acid, including the following:
- Safety information.
- Operational guidance.
- Optimal fluoridation levels.
- Community benefits of fluoridation.
- State drinking water program contact information.
To obtain a poster for your water facility, please contact the state drinking water
administrator or the oral health program for your state.
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The American Water Works Association* (AWWA)
is the principal
organization of water systems, operators of treatment facilities,
engineers, and others affiliated with the drinking water industry.
AWWA Manual of Practice #4,
Water Fluoridation, Principles and
Practices* (2004), Fifth Edition is a useful reference on the design and
operation of water fluoridation systems.
The World Health Organization’s 2005 publication,
Nutrients in Drinking Water* identifies fluoride as a beneficial
nutrient and includes information on water fluoridation.
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* Links to non-Federal organizations are
provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an
endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none
should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual
organization Web pages found at this link.
One or more documents on this Web page is available in Portable Document Format
(PDF). You will need Acrobat
Reader to view and print these documents.
Page last reviewed: November 3, 2008
Page last updated: January 14, 2008
Content source:
Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |