City of Brighton Water Plant Earns Water Fluoridation Quality Award

Brighton residents have something to smile about.

The City of Brighton was recently notified by the Michigan Department of Community Health that its water plant, under the Utilities Division of the Department of Public Services (DPS), received a Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Water fluoridation began in 1945 and has been found to be a safe, cost-effective way to reduce tooth decay and promote good oral health. In 2010, 73.9 percent of the U.S. population on community water systems, or about 204.3 million people, had access to fluoridated water, according to the CDC.

DPS Director Matt Schindewolf said the award is for maintaining a consistent water fluoride level during 2011 and that he was very proud of his staff.

"It (the award) indicates that the staff that operates our water system does pay strict attention to how much fluoride is added to the system," Schindewolf said. "This particular award is not given because you fluoride your water, it is provided to communities that have been able to demonstrate - through reports we are required to submit each month - that we maintain a very consistent and very appropriate level of fluoride, and that level doesn't change. It's an award that not many water utilities are able to achieve."

City Manager Dana Foster said this was not an award the city sought out, and the city was very pleased to receive the honor.