Community Water Fluoridation in Texas Tom Napier, P.E., Director Texas Fluoridation Project Texas Department of State Health Services Austin, Texas Texas Oral Health Summit: Advocacy, Equity & Access Austin, Texas September 9-10, 2004

Tom Napier, P.E., Director

FIFTY YEARS OF FLUORIDATION  MARSHALL – 1946  SWEETWATER – 1951  TYLER – 1952  CORPUS CHRISTI – 1953  PORT ARTHUR – 1953  PARIS – 1953

San Antonio

National Health Goals 2010  75% of Population served by PWS

How You Define Optimum  0.6 mg/l lower limit  No upper limit

7 Slide of Mountain

Areas of High Natural Fluoride

National Health Goals 2010  75% of Population served by PWS  WFRS Currently 76%

Texas Fluoridation Project  Program Overview  Promote and educate the public and communities about the benefits of water fluoridation  Provide reimbursement grants for public water systems  Provide on-site inspections of public water systems that adjust the fluoride  Surveillance  Operator Training  System Design

5400-Gallon Bulk Tank Fiberglass Enclosure

Properly Maintained System

Improper Venting

Operator Training Classes  Jasper  Tyler  New Braunfels  San Antonio  Corpus Christi  Houston

Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS) Stores System Information Generates Reports & Maps Daily Sample Results Accessible on INTERNET

CHALLENGES  INTERNET INFO  Active Opponents  Renewing System’s Administrative Commitment