LUCEDALE — Lucedale plans to officially end fluoridation in its municipal water system on May 15 after years of fluoride levels falling below the city’s stated optimal range and state violations tied to nonuse and late reporting. 

State consumer confidence reports show Lucedale’s fluoride levels have remained below the listed optimal range of 0.6 to 1.2 parts per million since at least 2020. The reports listed fluoride at 0.196 ppm in 2020, 0.174 ppm in 2021, 0.109 ppm in 2022 and 0.232 ppm in 2024. 

City water reports also show Lucedale repeatedly missed its stated fluoridation target. The system recorded zero months within the optimal range in 2021 and 2022. In 2024, the city reported one month in range, with 4% of fluoride samples falling within the optimal range over 12 months of sampling in the previous calendar year. 

Mayor Al Jones said the Mississippi Department of Health now requires Lucedale to either restore fluoride to optimal levels or formally discontinue fluoridation so the public record reflects the system’s current status. 

Jones said ending fluoridation is part of a broader effort to get the water department back on track. He said equipment wear, replacement costs and liability concerns no longer justify continuing the practice. 

“Fluoride is very granular when you put it in, and it wears out the pumps,” Jones said. “Over time, our equipment has failed, and it’s very expensive to replace. The availability of fluoride has also become an issue. It now costs more than $10,000 for bulk material for our rural water community, and the equipment needed runs about $30,000 to replace.”

Jones said city leaders are also concerned about the risk of fluoride being added at the wrong level. 

“That’s the biggest fear — if you get too much of it,” Jones said. “That’s a pretty big risk or liability that a lot of water associations don’t want to take. If a water manager makes a mistake and too much fluoride goes into the water, a whole city could suffer in the future.” 

Jones said the Mississippi Department of Health allowed some counties to go without fluoridation during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he could not confirm whether Lucedale fully stopped adding fluoride during that period, but said the city received state violations tied to nonuse and late reporting. Lucedale’s 2022 annual drinking water quality report says the system received a recordkeeping violation for not submitting its annual report by Dec. 31, 2022, although the report says the system later returned to compliance. 

Jones said the city’s next annual water report, expected next month, may help clarify whether fluoride was being used during the COVID-19 period. 

Dental leaders, however, said ending fluoridation could increase tooth decay, especially for residents with limited access to dental care. 

Mississippi Dental Association President Charles Belknap said removing fluoride could increase dental disease over time and add pressure to a dental workforce already facing shortages. 

“If we don’t have water fluoridation, we’re going to see a very big increase in dental decay — we already have some shortages of dentists and hygienists in other areas to be able to take care of that,” Belknap said. “It’s been estimated that there would be at least a 25% increase in cost if we discontinue fluoride in the state and across the nation.” 

Belknap said fluoridated water can especially help families who cannot afford regular dental care. 

“Those who are on Medicaid or government-assisted funding have choices, but those choices are limited,” Belknap said. “So why not have fluoridated water so they have a better chance of avoiding disease? It also increases costs for states and governments to treat decay because it is expensive.” 

He said smaller cities may need more staffing, training and equipment support to maintain fluoridation safely. 

“The most cost-effective method is through water fluoridation,” he said. “We need to equip water systems with the supplies they need, along with proper staffing, training and equipment, to deliver this safely and keep Mississippians as healthy as possible.” 

The state recently offered grants to water systems with existing fluoridation programs to help cover equipment costs. The offer required systems to continue fluoridating for at least three years and for employees handling fluoride to complete Centers for Disease Control and Prevention training. According to previous reporting by RHCJC News, no systems signed up.

Jones said he knows some families have limited access to dental care but believes residents should be able to choose whether to use fluoride rather than receive it through public water. 

“We thought it would be better for people to make their own choice, because fluoride is available in many different sources,” Jones said. 

“You can get some naturally through water even without adding it. The biggest drawback is that some lower-income families may not have access to proper health care, and that’s where you may see the greatest impact.” 

The city is preparing a public notice and plans to notify residents through inserts in upcoming water bills. Residents should not expect lower bills because of the change. 

According to the city clerk, the Board of Aldermen recently approved a water rate increase from $12 to $13.25 per 2,000 gallons, which officials said will raise the average bill by about $2. City officials said the increase is meant to support infrastructure maintenance and repairs as Lucedale grows.