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| Q. |
When did fluoridation of San Antonio's water supply
begin?
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| A. |
SAWS and BexarMet started adding fluoride to the water
in our systems in August 2002.
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| Q. |
What form of fluoride is added to our water?
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| A. |
Hydrofluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6)
is used. The fluoride meets standards set by the American
Water Works Association (AWWA) and by the National
Sanitation Foundation (NSF), organizations that set
standards for potable water.
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| Q. |
What is the concentration of fluoride?
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| A. |
Fluoride already occurs naturally in San Antonio’s
water at 0.3 parts per million. SAWS adds enough fluoride
to bring the fluoride level up to 0.8 parts per million,
the recommended level that experts say is necessary
to protect teeth against decay. Water from the Trinity
Aquifer is naturally fluoridated at very near the
recommended levels and therefore requires no additional
fluoride. Learn
more about our Trinity Aquifer water supply.
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| Q. |
How is fluoride be added to the water?
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| A. |
SAWS and Bexar Metropolitan Water District have developed
a joint venture to bring this safe, secure, and economically efficient
system to San Antonio.
Fluoride is added to the water at 27 SAWS and seven
BexarMet pump stations. Fluoride at each station
is stored in bulk storage tanks. Fluoride is manually
transferred from the bulk tanks to smaller day
tanks each day to meet pumping requirements. Metering
pumps then move the fluoride from day tanks to
the water as it is pumped from the well. Fluoride
injection pumps operate only when the water wells
are operating.
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| Q. |
How much does it cost to fluoridate our water?
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| A. |
In 2003, SAWS fluoridated 54 billion gallons of water
at a cost of $646,000. That works out to less than
1¢ per 1,000 gallons. |
| Q. |
Does everyone in San Antonio receive fluoridated water?
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| A. |
The city ordinance that was approved by voters on
November 7, 2000 directed all direct suppliers of
drinking water through piping systems serving properties
within the City of San Antonio to fluoridate all water
supplies within their distribution systems. SAWS complies
with the ordinance and adds fluoride to all water
within its system. BexarMet adds fluoride to the areas
it serves within the city limits.
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| Q. |
How can I be
sure that the level of fluoride in my water is safe? |
| A. |
Multiple levels of checks and double-checks are
included in the fluoride system:
- Failsafe devices and procedures at the injection sites
- Calibrated measuring devices used in injection pumps
- Daily testing by SAWS technicians
- Verification of usage amount at site by weight
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| Q. |
If I don't
want fluoride in my water, how can I remove it? |
| A. |
Customers can purchase reverse osmosis filtration
systems that can remove fluoride from the water.
Reverse osmosis is a very high level of filtration that removes
up to 98% of dissolved minerals — including chlorine and
fluoride — as well as virtually 100% of colloidal and suspended
matter. Reverse osmosis filters are available in under-sink models.
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