Overview
- Central Alabama Water, under a temporary restraining order issued Monday, must resume fluoridation at all plants pending a Thursday hearing, and the utility has not said whether fluoridation resumed after the order took effect at 2:30 p.m.
- The judge said Birmingham showed immediate and irreparable harm and ruled the utility must restore fluoride unless it proves it gave the 90 days’ notice that state law requires for permanent changes.
- The city sued last week after the utility announced on March 20 that it had stopped adding supplemental fluoride, citing aging equipment, repair costs estimated at about $3.7 million, and worker safety concerns with handling the chemical.
- CAW disclosed it had already halted fluoridation at some facilities in 2023 and in March 2024 and said it notified state health and environmental agencies about temporary stoppages.
- Health experts and groups such as the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics warn that ending fluoridation can raise cavity rates, especially in children and low‑income families, and a CAW board member urged independent testing to verify any restoration.