Fluoride in Waterloo Region Tap Water
This page is general background and is not health advice; see the Disclaimer.
Waterloo Region, the municipality that includes Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, added fluoride to its municipal drinking water for more than forty years. A non-binding plebiscite in 2010 returned a narrow majority against the practice, and regional council ended it that November. A 2008 article on this site, written when a local group called Waterloo Watch was campaigning for that outcome, argued fluoridation was unnecessary. This page gives neutral background on the practice and the local vote. Last checked: November 2026, using Wikipedia; no regional or federal health pages were reachable.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Place | Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario |
| Practice | Controlled addition of fluoride to public water |
| Length of local fluoridation | Over forty years |
| Plebiscite | 2010, non-binding |
| Result | 50.3% voted against fluoridation |
| End of fluoridation | November 2010, after council honoured the vote |
| Canadian recommended level | 0.7 mg/L since 2008 (Wikipedia) |
What water fluoridation is
Fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to public water supplies to reduce tooth decay. Fluoride slows the loss of minerals from tooth enamel and helps early cavities repair themselves. The World Health Organization recommends a concentration of 0.5 to 1.5 mg/L depending on climate and other factors. Wikipedia reports that the WHO, the FDI World Dental Federation and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorse it as safe and effective at recommended levels, while noting that critics question its risks, effectiveness and ethics.
Cochrane reviews cited in the same article estimate cavity reductions of 35 percent in baby teeth and 26 percent in permanent teeth where no other fluoride source is available, and say the evidence for adults is less clear. The one clear adverse effect at recommended levels is dental fluorosis, mostly mild, which changes the appearance of children's developing teeth.
The 2008 discussion
In 2008 the topic was live across Canada. Wikipedia notes that recommended levels there were lowered that year from a range of 0.8 to 1.0 mg/L to 0.7 mg/L to limit the risk of fluorosis. A telephone survey that year found about half of adults knew about fluoridation, and 62 percent of those supported it. The Cambridge Now item of that time presented the argument of a local campaign group, and a later forum post reproduced it. Those claims were the group's opinion, and this page does not endorse or dispute them individually.
The 2010 plebiscite
In 2010 the Region of Waterloo held a non-binding referendum asking residents whether fluoridation should continue. The result, according to Wikipedia, was 50.3 percent against. Regional council acted on the result, and fluoridation, which had run for over forty years, ended in November 2010. Wikipedia cites a Waterloo Chronicle report of November 30, 2010 headed "Fluoride officially turned off" for that step.
How Canada compares
About 45 percent of Canadians had access to fluoridated water in 2007. Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba had the highest rates, around 70 to 75 percent, and Quebec (about 6 percent), British Columbia (about 4 percent) and Newfoundland and Labrador (1.5 percent) the lowest. Nunavut and the Yukon had none. Other communities later went different ways. Calgary's council voted in 2011 to stop, and Hamilton, London and Toronto chose to continue.
Frequently asked questions
Is Waterloo Region water fluoridated now? Fluoridation ended in November 2010. Current status should be confirmed with the Region of Waterloo, which this page did not reach.
How close was the 2010 vote? 50.3 percent voted against fluoridation.
Was the plebiscite binding? No. It was non-binding, but regional council chose to follow the result.
Why is fluoride added to water at all? To reduce tooth decay, mainly in children.
What level is recommended in Canada? Wikipedia reports 0.7 mg/L since 2008.
Sources
Wikipedia articles on water fluoridation and water fluoridation by country, which cite the Waterloo Chronicle and the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association for the 2010 events.