SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today recognized 391 community water systems for maintaining optimal fluoride levels in drinking water for each month in 2003.

 

“Water fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health in both children and adults,” the Governor said.  “Studies have shown that for every dollar invested in fluoridation, as much as $38 is saved in dental treatment costs.”

 

Of those recognized, 115 systems earned a commendation for meeting state recommended fluoride levels of 0.9 to 1.2 parts per million for at least five consecutive years, 54 for at least 10 years, 10 for at least 15 years and three for at least 20 years. 

 

“One of the great advantages of fluoridation as a disease prevention measure is that it does not require a conscious decision by individuals for them to realize the benefits,” said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director.  “Whether one is rich or poor, lives in a rural or urban area, is a child at school or playing at home, is an adult or retired person, the benefits are gained simply by drinking fluoridated water.”

 

“Community water fluoridation is an efficient, economical way to promote dental health, particularly for children,” said Renee Cipriano, director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). “These water supply operators should be congratulated for their efforts in maintaining optimum fluoride levels for the protection of their communities.”

 

Fluoride in drinking water helps to improve the quality of life through less tooth decay, reduced time lost from school and work, and less money spent to restore, remove or replace decayed teeth.

 

In Illinois, 99 percent of those served by public water systems receive the benefit of fluoridated drinking water compared to the current national average of 66 percent.

 

Fluoride is found naturally in water, but in many communities the amount of the mineral is too low and does not meet the required standards.  When this occurs, fluoride must be added to the water to provide optimal oral health benefits to the community.  Of the 1,827 water supplies in Illinois, 889 systems adjust fluoride levels.  The average cost to fluoridate a community water supply is about 50 cents per person per year.

 

System operators send water samples to a certified lab on a monthly basis for testing and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) monitors the sample results to ensure fluoride levels meet the state standards.  IDPH and IEPA offer assistance to communities to assist them in maintaining fluoride levels.

 

In addition to those recognized for meeting standards for all 12 months, another 130 communities received honorable mention for achieving fluoridation standards for 11 of 12 months during 2003.

 

The idea of water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay was tested in four pairs of cities, including Evanston and Oak Park in Illinois, starting in 1945.  After surveys in those communities over 13 to 15 years, dental caries was reduced 50 percent to 70 percent in the communities with fluoridated water.  Due to the success of the study, recommendations for the optimum range of fluoride in water were developed in 1962.  The benefits of water fluoridation led to the development of other ways to deliver fluoride, such as toothpastes, gels, mouth rinses, tablets and drops. 

 

A list of those honored is attached.

 

Community Water Fluoridation

County	Ttl  No.  Yrs.	Perfect Compliance (12 of 12 months)	Cons. Years	Honorable Mention (11 of 12 months)
Adams	11 3 20	Mill Creek Public Water District ** Mendon Water Department Quincy Water Department ****	1993-2003 2001-2003 1984-2003	Clayton-Camp Point Plainville Water Department
Alexander	4 5 2	Illinois American Water Co. - Cairo Southwater, Inc.* Tamms Water Department	2000-2003 1999-2003 2002-2003
Bond
Boone	14 3 5	Belvidere Water Department ** Consumers Illinois Water Co. - Candlewick Poplar Grove Water Department *	1990-2003 2001-2003 1999-2003
Brown
Bureau	2 9 7   15	De Pue Water Department Dover Water Department * LaMoille Water Department * Mineral Water Department Princeton Water Department *** Sheffield Water Department	2002-2003 1995-2003 1997-2003   1989-2003	Dalzell Water Department Tiskilwa Water Department
Calhoun	2	Batchtown Water Department Brussels Water Department	2002-2003
Carroll	4 2 8 2	Carroll Heights Utility Lanark Water Department Milledgeville Water Department Savanna Water Department * Thomson Water Department	2000-2003 2002-2003 1996-2003 2002-2003	Mount Carroll Shannon Water Department
Cass	3	Arenzville Water Department Beardstown Water Department	2001-2003
Champaign	20 2       4 5	Dewey Public Water District Fisher Water Department Homer Water Department Illinois American Water Co. – Champaign **** Ludlow Water Department Mahomet Water Department Pesotum Water Department Rantoul Water Department Sadorus Water Department Sangamon Valley Water Department *	1984-2003 2002-2003       2000-2003 1999-2003	Gifford Water Department Royal Water Department
Christian	10 4 4	Assumption Water Department ** Stonington Water Department Taylorville Water Department	1994-2003 2000-2003 2000-2003	Edinburg Water Department Morrisonville Water Dept. Mount Auburn Water Dept. Palmer Water Department Pana Water Department
Clark	6 9	Casey Water Department * Marshall Water Department *	1998-2003 1995-2003
Clay		Flora Water Department		Clay City Water Department
Clinton	7	Bartelso Water Department * Germantown Water Department St. Rose Public Water District	1997-2003	Breese Water Department
Coles	17 8 15	Ashmore Water Department Charleston Water Department *** Clear Water Service Corp.* Mattoon Water Department ***	1987-2003 1996-2003 1989-2003
Cook	11 18 9 2 9 10 13      3     12      3	Chicago Water Department ** Evanston Water Department *** Glencoe Water Department * Ill. American Water Co.- Midwest Palos District Northbrook Water Department * Park Forest Water Department ** Richton Park Water Department ** Steger Water Department Wilmette Water Department ** Winnetka Water Department	1993-2003 1986-2003 1995-2003 2002-2003 1995-2003 1994-2003 1991-2003 2001-2003 1993-2003 2001-2003	Bartlett Water Department
Crawford	6	Flat Rock Water Department Hutsonville Water Department *	1997-2003
Cumberland	2 7	Jewett Water Department Neoga Water Department * Toledo Water Department	2002-2003 1997-2003
DeKalb	9   2 2 5 4	Cortland Water Department DeKalb Water Department * Kirkland Water Department Malta Water Department Shabbona Water Department Sandwich Water Department * Sycamore Water Department Valley View Water Department	1995-2003   2002-2003 2002-2003 1999-2003 2000-2003	Donny Brook Estates Somonauk Water Dept.
DeWitt	3 2 9 2	Farmer City Water Department Wapella Water Department Weldon Water Department * Waynesville Water Department	2001-2003 2002-2003 1995-2003 2002-2003	Clinton Water Department
Douglas		Atwood Water Department
DuPage	11 4 9 14   5 9	Greene Road Water Department ** North Region Water Facility Southeast Regional Water Facility * Steeple Run Subdivision ** Tee & Green Subdivision West Chicago Water Department * York Center Coop *	1993-2003 2000-2003 1995-2003 1990-2003   1999-2003 1995-2003	Highland Hills Sanitary Dist.
Edgar	5	Chrisman Water Department Kansas Water Department *	1999-2003	Hume Water Department Paris Water Department Redmon Water Works Inc.
Edwards	7	Albion Water Department * Bone Gap Water Department	1997-2003
Effingham	10 2	Altamont Water Department ** Effingham Water Department	1994-2003 2002-2003
Fayette	8	Farina Water Department Vandalia Water Department *	1996-2003
Ford	6 9 2	Gibson City Water Department Melvin Water Department * Paxton Water Department * Roberts Water Department	1998-2003 1995-2003 2002-2003	Kempton Water Department
Franklin				Rend Lake Inner City Water System
Fulton	2   7	Astoria Water Department Avon Water Department Lewistown Water Department * Vermont Water Department	2002-2003   1997-2003	Canton Water Department
Gallatin	2	Ridgway Water Department	2002-2003
Greene	4 8	Eldred Water Department Kane Water Department * Whitehall Water Department	2000-2003 1996-2003	Hillview Water Department
Grundy	2 6 18	Illinois American Water Co.- Nettle Creek Illinois American Water Co.- Ridgecrest Dist.* Morris Water Department ***	2002-2003 1998-2003 1986-2003	Minooka Water Department
Hamilton
Hancock	4	Carthage Water Department Hamilton Water Department Warsaw Water Department	2000-2003
Hardin
Henderson	5	Dallas Rural Water District *	1999-2003
Henry	9 2 2             3 9 4	Andover Water Department Annawan Water Department * Buysee Subdivision Colona Water Department Geneseo Hills Subdivision Hazelwood West Subdivision Hazelwood 4th Addition Hickory Hills 2nd Addition Lynn Center Water Department Lynnwood 3rd Addition Oak View Estates Orion Water Department * Osco Mutual Water Supply Co., Inc. Rustic Acres Subdivision Timber Ridge Subdivision Sunny Hill Estates Wolf Ridge Well Corp.	1995-2003 2002-2003 2002-2003             2001-2003 1995-2003 2000-2003	Country Estates Subdivision Green Rock/Colona Water Oakwood West Subdivision Geneseo Water Department Lake Lynwood Homeowners
Iroquois	2   4 8 4	Buckley Water Department Clifton Water Department Crescent City Water Department Onarga Water Department * Watseka Water Department	2002-2003   2000-2003 1996-2003 2000-2003	Gilman Water Department Martinton Water Department Milford Water Department Woodland Water Department
Jackson	11	Carbondale Water Department **	1993-2003
Jasper	5	Willow Hill Water Department *	1999-2003
Jefferson
Jersey				Jerseyville Water Department
JoDaviess	4	Galena Water Department Weiner Estates	2000-2003	Apple River Water Dept. Bahl Water Corp. Elizabeth Water Department Long Hollow Point Stockton Water Department Utility Inc. Apple Canyon Utility Co. Utility Inc. Galena Territory
Johnson
Kane	9   17   2 2   2 10 13 10	Aurora Water Department * Batavia Water Department Carpentersville Water Department *** Elgin Water Department Illinois American Water Co.- Rollins District Illinois American Water Co.-River Grange Dist. Montgomery Water Department Otter Creek Water Reclamation District Subdivision Water Trust No. 1 ** South Elgin Water Department ** St. Charles Water Department ** Wasco Sanitary District	1995-2003   1987-2003   2002-2003 2002-2003   2002-2003 1994-2003 1991-2003 1994-2003	Elburn Water Department Gilberts Water Department Fox River Water Reclamation District Hampshire Water Dept. Utility Inc. Lake Marian Utility Inc. Ferson Creek
Kankakee	3 5 2 2   9 8 9	Buckingham Water Department Consumers Illinois Water-Kankakee * Grant Park Water Department Herscher Water Department Lake Shannon Water Department Manteno Water Department * Skyway and Skyline Subdivision * Vaughndale Meadows Subdivision *	2001-2003 1999-2003 2002-2003 2002-2003   1995-2003 1996-2003 1995-2003
Kendall	4 2 9 2	Fox Lawn Utility Illinois American Water Co.-Valley Marina Illinois American Water Co.-Hollis District Newark Water Department * Plano Water Department Yorkville Water Department	2000-2003 2002-2003 1995-2003 2002-2003
Knox	10	Galesburg Water Department **	1994-2003
Lake	11 7 10 4 4       13 10 5   4 9 9	Barrington Water Department ** Central Lake County Joint Action Wtr Agency * Fox Lake Hills Subdivision ** Great Lakes Naval Base Hainesville Water Department Highland Park Highwood Water Department Ivanhoe Club Lake Forest Water Department ** Lake Villa Water Department ** Lakemoor Water Department * Pekara Subdivision Port Barrington Shores Subdivision Tower Lakes Water Department * Village of Island Lake * Wauconda Water Department Waukegan Water Department Zion-Benton Treatment Plant	1993-2003 1997-2002 1994-2003 2000-2003 2000-2003       1991-2003 1994-2003 1999-2003   2000-2003 1995-2003 1995-2003	Brooks Farm Subdivision Fox Lake Water Department
LaSalle	2 11 4   10 7	Illinois Prairie Estates Subdivision Illinois American Water Co. - Streator ** LaSalle Water Department Leland Water Department Mendota Water Department ** Rutland Water Department * Utility Inc. Lake Holiday	2002-2003 1993-2003 2000-2003   1994-2003 1997-2003	Earlville Water Department Homeowners Association of Four Lakes Subdivision Leonore Water Department Marseilles South Marseilles Water Department North Utica Water Dept. Oaklane Subdivision Peru Water Department Seneca Water Department
Lawrence	3	St. Francisville Water Department	2001-2003	Lawrenceville Water Dept.
Lee	11 14 14 9 11 2 5 2	Amboy Water Department ** Ashton Water Department ** Consumers Illinois Water - Woodhaven ** Dixon Correctional Center * Dixon Water Department ** Paw Paw Water Department Sublette Water Department * West Brooklyn Water Department White Oaks Estates	1993-2003 1990-2003 1990-2003 1995-2003 1993-2003 2002-2003 1999-2003 2002-2003
Livingston	3   2 2 10	Campus Water Department Dwight Water Department Fairbury Water Department Flanagan Water Department Forrest Water Department Illinois American Water Co.-Pontiac ** Saunemin Water Department	2001-2003   2002-2003 2002-2003 1994-2003	Cullom Water Department Odell Water Department
Logan	9 2 8	Illinois American Water Co.- Lincoln * Emden Water Department Mount Pulaski Water Department *	1995-2003 2002-2003 1996-2003	Atlanta Water Department Middletown Water Dept.
McDonough	11	Blandinsville Water Department **	1993-2003	Prairie City Water Dept.
McHenry	9 9 6 2 6 3 2   2 2 8 6 9	Algonquin Water Department Cary Water Department * Crystal Lake Water Department * Eastwood Manor Water Company * Fox River Grove Water Department Harvard Water Department * Hebron Water Department Huntley Water Department Illinois American Water Co. Terra Cotta Johnsburg Water Department Lake in the Hills Water Department McHenry Water Department * Nunda Utility Company * Woodstock Water Department *	1995-2003 1995-2003 1998-2003 2002-2003 1998-2003 2001-2003 2002-2003   2002-2003 2002-2003 1996-2003 1998-2003 1995-2003	Union Water Department Richmond Water Department Valley Hi Nursing Home
McLean	4 8 4 7 7	Bloomington Water Department Carlock Water Department * Downs Water Plant Leroy Water Department * Lexington Water Department *	2000-2003 1996-2003 2000-2003 1997-2003 1997-2003	Belleflower Water Dept. Danvers Water Department Heyworth Water Department Indian Creek Homeowners Normal Water Department
Macon	8 15 11 8   10 5 9	Blue Mound Water Department * Decatur Water Department *** Forsyth Water Department ** Long Creek Water Department * Macon Water Department Maroa Water Department ** Niantic Water Department * Oreana Water Department *	1996-2003 1989-2003 1993-2003 1996-2003   1994-2003 1999-2003 1995-2003	Argenta Water Department Harristown Water Dept.
Macoupin	3 5 2	Carlinville Water Department Gillespie Water Department * Otter Lake Water Commission Staunton Water Department	2001-2003 1999-2003 2001-2003
Madison	11 8 10   2 8 6 9 10   8 9	Bethalto Water Department ** Collinsville Water Department * East Alton Water Department ** Edwardsville Water Department Highland Water Department Holiday Shores Sanitary District * Illinois American Water Co. – Alton * Illinois American Water Co. - Granite City * Maryville Water Department ** Roxana Water Department Troy Water Department * Wood River Water Department *	1993-2003 1996-2003 1994-2003   2002-2003 1996-2003 1998-2003 1995-2003 1994-2003   1996-2003 1995-2003	Hartford Water Department
Marion	19 9	Centralia Water Department *** Salem Water Department *	1985-2003 1995-2003	Kinmundy Water Department
Marshall	5 6 11 5	Henry Water Department * Lacon Water Department * Utility Inc. - Lake Wildwood Utility Corp. ** Wenona Water Department *	1999-2003 1998-2003 1993-2003 1999-2003	Toluca Water Department Varna Water Department
Mason	3 11 5	Havanna Water Department Mason City Water Department ** San Jose Water Department *	2001-2003 1993-2003 1999-2003	Easton Water Department
Massac		Metropolis Water Department
Menard
Mercer	2	Frye Lake Water Company New Boston Water Department	2001-2003	Swedona Water Association
Monroe
Montgomery	2 11 3 9	Hillsboro Water Department Litchfield Water Department ** Nokomis Water Department Raymond Water Department *	2002-2003 1993-2003 2001-2003 1995-2003
Morgan	15 12	Chapin Water Department *** Jacksonville Water Department **	1989-2003 1992-2003	Meredosia Water Department South Jacksonville Water Department Waverly Water Department
Moultrie	9 7	Arthur Water Department * Sullivan Water Department *	1995-2003 1997-2003	Bethany Water Dept.
Ogle	9 2 10 2   11 9 4	Creston Water Department * Davis Junction Water Department Forreston Water Department ** Mount Morris Water Department Nordic Woods Subdivision Oregon Water Department ** Polo Water Department * Rochelle Water Department	1995-2003 2001-2003 1994-2003 2001-2003   1993-2003 1995-2003 2000-2003	Hillcrest Water Department
Peoria	8 9 9 4	Chillicothe Water Department * Illinois American Water Co.- Peoria * Peoria Heights Water Department * Pleasant Valley Water Department	1996-2003 1995-2003 1995-2003 2000-2003	Elmwood Water Department
Perry	8	Pinckneyville Water Department *	1996-2003
Piatt	6	Monticello Water Department *	1998-2003	Bement Water Department Cerro Gordo Water Dept. Hammond Water Department La Place Water Works
Pike	3 7 7 9	Griggsville Water Department Pike County Public Water District * Pittsfield Water Department * Pleasant Hill Water Department *	2001-2003 1997-2003 1997-2003 1995-2003	Barry Water Department New Canton Water Dept.
Pope	7	Millstone Water Department *	1997-2003
Pulaski
Putnam	4	Hennepin Public Water District	2000-2003	McNabb Water Department
Randolph	2 2 2	Chester Water Department Ruma Water Department Steeleville Water Department	2002-2003 2002-2003 2002-2003
Richland	9	Olney Water Department *	1995-2003
Rock Island	9 2 4   9       11 2 9 2 11 11 5	Andalusia Water Department * Carbon Cliff Water Department Coal Valley Water Department Coyne Center Coop East Moline Water Department * Eberts 3rd Addition. Hillcrest Court 2nd Addition Milan Water Department Moline Water Department ** Rapids City Water Department Reynolds Water Department * Rock Island Water Department Silvis Heights Water Department ** Silvis Water Department ** Water Werks * Winding Creek Estates	1995-2003 2002-2003 2000-2003   1995-2003       1993-2003 2002-2003 1995-2003 2002-2003 1993-2003 1993-2003 1999-2003	Cordova Water Department Coyne Center Coop Evergreen Village Subdivision Glendale Water Association Hickory Hills 2nd Addition Indian Bluffs Subdivision Port Byron Water Department Rainbow Ridge Ridgewood Ledges
St. Clair	5 9	Dupo Water Department * Illinois American Water Co.- East St. Louis* Kaskaskia Water Department	1999-2003 1995-2003
Saline	11	Saline Valley Conservancy District **	1993-2003
Sangamon	4   9 8	Dawson Water Department Illiopolis Water Department Mechanicsburg-Buffalo Riverton Water Department * City, Water, Light & Power - Springfield *	2000-2003   1995-2003 1996-2003	Curran-Gardner Township
Schuyler	2	Rushville Water Department	2002-2003
Scott				Bluffs Water Department Winchester Water Dept.
Shelby	12	Cowden Water Department Moweaqua Water Department ** Shelbyville Water Department	1991-2003	Sigel Water Department
Stark	10	Wyoming Water Department **	1994-2003
Stephenson