Does fluoridation present difficult engineering problems?
No. Properly maintained and monitored water fluoridation systems do not present difficult engineering problems. With proper planning and maintenance of the system, fluoride adjustment is compatible with other water treatment processes. Today’s equipment allows water treatment personnel to easily monitor and maintain the desired fluoride concentration. There are only three basic compounds used to fluoridate community drinking water: 1) sodium fluoride, a white, odorless crystalline material; 2) sodium fluorosilicate, a white or yellow-white, odorless crystalline powder; and 3) fluorosilicic acid, a white to straw-colored liquid. The three fluoride compounds are derived from the mineral apatite which is a mixture of calcium compounds. Fluoride compounds are added to the water supply as liquids, but are measured by two basic types of devices, dry feeders or solution feeders (metering pumps). By design, and with proper maintenance and testing, water systems limit the amount of fluoride tha
