PORTAGE, MI 9WKZO AM/FM) – The City of Portage and the City of Allegan are among seven Michigan water systems have been awarded the 2023 Community Water Fluoridation 50 Year Award from the American Dental Association, Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The other systems include Bangor, Blissfield, Boyne City, Manchester, and New Buffalo.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says recipients are recognized for continuously adjusting and maintaining the amount of fluoride in drinking water for the prevention of tooth decay in adults and children. The award is given to those communities that achieved excellence in community water fluoridation by maintaining a consistent level of fluoride in drinking water for 50 consecutive years, starting in 1973.
Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in the water to a level that is optimal for preventing tooth decay. The MDHHS says it has been recognized by the CDC as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
In 2023, a total of 86 public water systems in 26 states received these awards, including the seven communities in Michigan. Nationally, nearly 75% served by community water systems have access to optimally fluoridated tap water.
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