Fluoridation

Fluoride is naturally found in all water sources, including fresh and sea water. Fluoride is also found naturally in a wide range of food items including tea, fish and rice. When present in drinking water at the optimum level, or used in dental treatments, fluoride can promote dental health by helping to prevent tooth damage and decay. It has also been shown that when added to drinking water supplies, fluoride can promote dental health by helping to prevent tooth decay.

For further information on fluoride and fluoridated drinking water, please refer to the following factsheets:

• Fluoridated drinking water (Healthy WA)
• Fluoride facts for Western Australia (Healthy WA)
• Fluoride and protecting your teeth from tooth decay (Healthy WA)

For further information on dental health please visit our Dental Health web site (external site).

Fluoridation publications

• The State Oral Health Plan 2016–2020 was published by the Department of Health in 2016 and is accessible via the Chief Dental Office page.
• Fluoride use for oral health in Western Australia 2020 (PDF 161KB) is also available for download.

The study Water Fluoridation and Dental Health of Children in WA was published by the Department of Health in 2016. This study analysed both the frequency and extent of tooth decay in fluoridated and unfluoridated areas of WA, for both deciduous and permanent teeth. It revealed that children from unfluoridated areas in the South West of Western Australia were at greater risk of having a worse tooth decay experience, compared with children from the fluoridated Perth metropolitan area. The peer-reviewed report Oral health of school children in Western Australia (external site), published in the Australian Dental Journal in 2016, also made a similar finding.

The Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1966, the second and third reading speech for the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Bill and associated debates can be accessed via the links below:

• The Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1966 (External link) (the Act)
• Legislative Assembly second reading speech (external site) for the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Bill on 4 October 1966 (pp 1073-1077)
• Legislative Assembly debate (external site) on 11 October 1966 (pp 1270-1291)
• Legislative Assembly debate (external site) (resumed) on 12 October 1966 (pp 1322-1386)
• Legislative Assembly third reading speech (external site) on 20 October 1966 (pp 1583-1595)
• Legislative Council second reading speech (external site) for the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Bill on 26 October 1966 (pp 1693-1699)
• Legislative Council debate (external site) (resumed) on 27 October 1966 (pp 1774-1795)
• Legislative Council debate (external site) (resumed) on 1 November 1966 (pp 1830-1859)
• Legislative Council debate (external site) (resumed) on 2 November 1966 (pp 1931-1945)
• Legislative Council debate (external site) (resumed) on 3 November 1966 (pp 1997-2034)
  
  
• Education and Health Standing Committee - Legislative Assembly Western Australia – Oral health hearings (May 2018) (external site)
• Education and Health Standing Committee - Legislative Assembly Western Australia – Issues Paper Oral health: facts and friction (June 2018) (external site)

Media releases

• Fluoridated drinking water in Newman set to combat tooth decay (26 September 2023)
• Fluoride on tap in Dalyellup (26 July 2022)
• Fluoridation roll out for South-West communities (6 January 2021)
• Fluoridation milestone for Newman (21 Dec 2020)
• Australind and Eaton to benefit from fluoridated drinking water (19 Oct 2018)
• Oral health plan aims to fill gaps in dental care (25 Nov 2016) (external site)
• WA benefits from half a century of fluoridation (17 Nov 2016) (external site)

NB – Construction of fluoridation plants for Bunbury has been delayed due to the constrained construction market and global supply chain issues of critical parts.  It is anticipated that the plants will be operational by June 2024.

Fluoridation survey reports

The Department of Health on behalf of the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Advisory Committee conducts community surveys from time to time in communities that do not have fluoridated drinking water at the time of the survey, to determine that community's perception on fluoridation. The following survey reports are available for download:

• Bunbury and Dalyellup areas water fluoridation survey report 2018 (PDF 3MB)
• Bunbury area water fluoridation survey report 2011 (PDF 2MB)
• Bridgetown area fluoridation survey report 2014 (PDF 1MB)
• Port Hedland fluoridation survey report 2013 (PDF 784KB)
• Moora water fluoridation survey report 2011 (PDF 913KB)
• Jurien Bay water fluoridation survey report 2011 (PDF 734KB)
• Two Rocks water fluoridation survey report 2011 (PDF 700KB)
• Yanchep water fluoridation survey report 2011 (PDF 766KB)
• Carnarvon fluoridation survey report 2012 (PDF 1MB)

Further reading

• Fluoridation - reviews and journal articles

Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Advisory Committee

In Western Australia drinking water supplies can only be fluoridated by direction from the Minister for Health, in accordance with the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1966 (External link) (the Act). Under the Act, the Minister for Health may only make such a direction on the advice of the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Advisory Committee.

The Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Advisory Committee (the Committee) is a statutory committee established under the Act and operating under the chairmanship of the Department of Health.

The function of the Committee is to consider, advise and make written recommendations to the Minister for Health relating to:

• any proposal to add fluoride to any public water supply
• any proposal for making, amending or revoking any regulation pursuant to the Act
• matters conducive to the achievement of the objects and effectual administration of the Act.

The six members of the Committee are:

• the Chief Health Officer (Chairman) or delegate^#
• a representative of the Water Corporation nominated by the CEO
• the CEO of the Chemistry Centre (WA) or nominee
• a representative from the Australian Medical Association appointed by the Minister for Health
• a representative from the Australian Dental Association appointed by the Minister for Health
• a representative from the Western Australian Local Government Association appointed by the Minister for Health

^#The Acting Chair of the Committee is designated pursuant to an Instrument of Designation that has been signed by the Chief Health Officer in accordance with section 5(4) of the Act.

Nominations and appointments are made pursuant to section 5(2) of the Act and are subject to the provisions set out in the remainder of section 5 of the Act.

The Committee is supported by a secretariat provided by the Environmental Health Directorate of the Department of Health.

The Committee operates in accordance with applicable record keeping and privacy provisions for the Western Australian public sector.

For more information about any aspect of the Committee please contact:

Mr Richard Theobald
Secretary
Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Advisory Committee
Department of Health
P.O. Box 8172
Perth Business Centre WA 6849

Email: ehinfo@health.wa.gov.au