Halifax Water hasn't added fluoride to water for more than a year

Halifax Water has not added fluoride to its facilities at Pockwock Lake and Lake Major for more than a year because of equipment issues.

"Some of these repairs will require significant upgrades. While adding fluoride is not a regulated requirement, we are engaging the medical officer of health and our board as we navigate the future of water fluoridation," a spokesperson for the utility told CBC's Maritime Noon in an email on Tuesday.

Fluoride units at Pockwock Lake and Lake Major have been offline since May 2023 and April 2020 respectively. Repairs at Pockwock are to be completed this month, the spokesperson said, and the unit should be online again in the coming weeks. There is no estimated repair time for Lake Major.

Pockwock Lake serves more than 200,000 customers and Lake Major serves more than 105,000 people.

No one from Halifax Water was available for an interview on Tuesday.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can help protect teeth from cavities.

According to Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change's website, fluoridation of drinking water supplies is "a well-accepted measure to protect public health and is strongly supported by scientific evidence."

"It continues to be endorsed by over 90 national and international professional health organizations including Health Canada, the Canadian and American Dental Associations, the Canadian Medical Association, the World Health Organization and the Food and Drug Administration of the United States."

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, said his team only became aware about fluoridation stopping at Lake Major and Pockwock Lake in October, after New Glasgow announced it would stop adding fluoride to its water supply.

Strang told Maritime Noon on Thursday that he is a strong supporter of water fluoridation.

"It's most important to young children with their primary teeth, but it is important throughout for all ages as well ... it's the most equitable way to protect all the population in communities," Strang said.

"When you fluoridate water, everybody in the community is exposed to it. And it's most important for populations that are marginalized socio-economically, who are at greatest risk of dental decay."

Strang said his team would be engaging municipalities and the public about what science says about fluoridation. His said there is a lot of misinformation about it.

"It's certainly something that continues to be studied, but the body of knowledge here in 2024 would certainly say that water fluoridation ... at the levels we use, is safe," Strang said.

Dr. Claire Karst, a dentist and the president of the Nova Scotia Dental Association, told Maritime Noon she questions why there was a lack of public health disclosure "on this very important public health measure" until the media inquired.

Karst said adding fluoride to water reduces tooth decay. She said it was "quite concerning" to learn Halifax Water has not been adding fluoride for more than a year. Last week, she expressed a similar sentiment when to New Glasgow's decision. 

She said she is hoping dentists will be able to weigh in on decisions made regarding fluoridation in the water supply.

"I question the people that have made these decisions and not communicate these decisions to the public of Nova Scotia. Do they truly understand what early childhood tooth decay looks like, the pain and suffering that goes along with that? So this sort of conversation needs to take place with decision makers," Karst said.

For seniors in long-term care, Karst said fluoridated water can help defend against root decay. She said fluoridated water also provides some protection to people who cannot access a dentist.

Karst said parents who are concerned about losing fluoridation in the water can start with prevention at home by ensuring their children's teeth are brushed and flossed before bedtime and that they drink water instead of sugary or carbonated beverages.