8.4.1 Fluoridation

Fluoridation of drinking water is not a water treatment process, but has been and continues to be effective in reducing the incidence of dental caries. It has many advantages over alternative methods for fluoridation, due to its cost-effectiveness, consistency of exposure, equal distribution to all socioeconomic groups, and safety. In some areas, fluoride occurs naturally in drinking water.

In areas where the drinking water supply is artificially fluoridated (at the instigation of the relevant state or territory health authorities), the process is generally undertaken after clarification and chlorination of the water, because fluoride ions may adsorb onto the surface of suspended matter in the water and be subsequently removed through these processes. Fluoridation is generally achieved by adding either a slurry of sodium fluorosilicate, a solution of hydrofluorosilicic acid or (less commonly) a saturated solution of sodium fluoride, added as a metered dose for a given rate of water flow. Correction of pH may be needed out after fluoride addition.

Use of fluoride is controlled by state and territory legislation and regulations, and local regulations. Some of these are outlined in Table 8.1 (see also Section 8.9).

Table 8.1 State and Territory fluoride legislation and regulations

Australian Capital Territory	Electricity and Water (amendment) Act (no 2) 1989. No 13 of 1989—Section 13 Public Health (Drinking Water) Code of Practice 2007 (No I)
New South Wales	Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Regulation 2022 Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1957
Northern Territory	NT Health Position Statement on The Use of Fluorides in the Northern Territory
Queensland	Water Fluoridation Act 2008 Water Fluoridation Regulation 2020
South Australia	There is no fluoride legislation in South Australia
Tasmania	Fluoridation Act 1968 Fluoridation Regulations 2019
Victoria	Health (Fluoridation) Act 1973
Western Australia	Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1966