2016 Fluoridation Statistics
NOTE: A new methodology for calculating population estimates has been applied starting with 2016 data. Prior to 2016, the state reported community water system (CWS) populations were corrected by adjusting those states that had a total CWS population greater than the US Census Bureau (USCB) down to the USCB population for the state and adjusting the state reported fluoridated population by the same factor. For many states, this still overestimated the CWS population as it did not account for those residents on private residential wells or non-community water systems. The new methodology also leverages the Percent of State Population on CWS estimate from the US Geological Survey, which tailors the factor appropriately for each state and accounts for the proportion of each state’s population on other self-supply water sources (private residential wells or non-community water systems). The new methodology results in a new control factor that is applied to both the state reported CWS population and state reported fluoridated population.
As a result, reported population estimates may be different from previous reports. You can read more about the new methodology here on the Calculating Fluoridation Statistics page.
These statistics were prepared using water system data reported by states to the CDC Water Fluoridation Reporting System as of December 31, 2016, the US Census Bureau state population estimates for July 2016, and population estimates served by public water supply as published by the US Geological Survey on November 5, 2014.
2016 National Water Fluoridation Statistics
| Total US population, personsa | 323,127,513 |
|---|---|
| US population on community water systems (CWS), personsb,c | 276,969,134 |
| Total US population on fluoridated drinking water systems, personsb,c | 201,565,162 |
| Percentage of US population receiving fluoridated waterc,d | 62.4% |
| Percentage of US population on CWS receiving fluoridated waterc,e | 72.8% |
| Total number of CWS in United Statesb | 52,286 |
| Number of CWS providing fluoridated waterb | 18,030 |
| Number of CWS adjusting fluorideb | 5,817 |
| Number of CWS consecutive to systems with optimal fluoride levelsb | 6,230 |
| Number of CWS with naturally occurring fluoride at or above optimal levelsb | 5,865 |
| Population served by CWS with naturally occurring fluoride at or above optimal levelsb,c | 11,283,910 |
2016 State Fluoridation Percentage Calculations and States Ranked by Fluoridation Percentage
| State | Persons Receiving Fluoridated Waterc | Persons Served by CWSc | % Population Served by CWS Receiving Fluoridated Water | Rankf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | 201,565,162 | 276,969,134 | 72.8% | |
| Alabama | 3,367,031 | 4,314,476 | 78.0% | 24 |
| Alaska | 233,192 | 469,850 | 49.6% | 44 |
| Arizona | 3,868,308 | 6,694,514 | 57.8% | 39 |
| Arkansas | 2,431,541 | 2,840,231 | 85.6% | 20 |
| Californiag | 22,201,744 | 36,641,304 | 60.6% | 37 |
| Colorado | 3,893,189 | 5,197,242 | 74.9% | 29 |
| Connecticut | 2,421,487 | 2,704,505 | 89.5% | 16 |
| Delaware | 660,276 | 755,629 | 87.4% | 20 |
| District of Columbia | 681,170 | 681,170 | 100.0% | 1 |
| Floridag | 14,269,078 | 18,521,077 | 77.0% | 26 |
| Georgia | 8,348,197 | 8,681,891 | 96.2% | 6 |
| Hawaii | 154,360 | 1,370,079 | 11.3% | 51 |
| Idaho | 392,745 | 1,219,353 | 32.2% | 48 |
| Illinois | 11,474,462 | 11,648,817 | 98.5% | 4 |
| Indiana | 4,652,921 | 4,936,187 | 94.3% | 8 |
| Iowa | 2,280,194 | 2,526,141 | 90.3% | 14 |
| Kansas | 1,829,273 | 2,753,541 | 66.4% | 34 |
| Kentucky | 3,753,680 | 3,758,413 | 99.9% | 2 |
| Louisiana | 1,801,324 | 4,074,943 | 44.2% | 46 |
| Maine | 610,053 | 769,362 | 79.3% | 23 |
| Maryland | 4,579,173 | 4,901,590 | 93.4% | 10 |
| Massachusetts | 3,621,778 | 6,256,423 | 57.9% | 38 |
| Michigan | 6,492,531 | 7,240,436 | 89.7% | 15 |
| Minnesota | 4,294,393 | 4,346,035 | 98.8% | 3 |
| Mississippi | 1,548,369 | 2,539,375 | 61.0% | 36 |
| Missouri | 3,986,715 | 5,194,390 | 76.8% | 27 |
| Montana | 250,037 | 742,072 | 33.7% | 47 |
| Nebraska | 1,106,087 | 1,545,849 | 71.6% | 31 |
| Nevada | 2,076,200 | 2,768,047 | 75.0% | 28 |
| New Hampshire | 410,339 | 883,053 | 46.5% | 45 |
| New Jersey | 1,159,594 | 7,963,631 | 14.6% | 50 |
| New Mexico | 1,367,330 | 1,774,661 | 77.0% | 25 |
| New York | 12,655,170 | 17,660,481 | 71.7% | 30 |
| North Carolina | 5,814,174 | 6,631,229 | 87.7% | 19 |
| North Dakota | 672,662 | 702,333 | 95.8% | 7 |
| Ohio | 9,042,076 | 9,771,921 | 92.5% | 11 |
| Oklahoma | 2,499,519 | 3,593,399 | 69.6% | 32 |
| Oregon | 778,590 | 3,445,307 | 22.6% | 49 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,138,572 | 9,417,111 | 54.6% | 42 |
| Rhode Island | 796,730 | 943,071 | 84.5% | 22 |
| South Carolina | 3,404,278 | 3,725,371 | 91.4% | 12 |
| South Dakota | 734,542 | 785,109 | 93.6% | 9 |
| Tennessee | 5,382,302 | 6,087,058 | 88.4% | 17 |
| Texas | 17,017,307 | 25,158,299 | 67.6% | 33 |
| Utah | 1,578,107 | 2,995,452 | 52.7% | 43 |
| Vermont | 249,073 | 443,316 | 56.2% | 41 |
| Virginia | 6,428,007 | 6,677,652 | 96.3 | 5 |
| Washington | 3,962,936 | 6,201,066 | 63.9% | 35 |
| West Virginia | 1,301,998 | 1,442,417 | 90.3% | 13 |
| Wisconsin | 3,625,881 | 4,107,306 | 88.3% | 18 |
| Wyoming | 266,465 | 466,949 | 57.1% | 40 |
Footnotes
a Census Population Count 2016. Annual Estimates of the Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Division. Release Date: December 2016. Available at https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=PEP_2016_PEPANNRES&src=pt
b Reported in CDC Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS). For purposes of this report, a water system is considered a community water system if so designated by the state drinking water administrator in accordance with the regulatory requirements of the US Environmental Protection Agency. A community water system (CWS) supplies water to the same population year-round. It serves at least 25 people at their primary residences or at least 15 residences that are primary residences (for example, municipalities, mobile home park, sub-divisions). http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/drinkingwater/pws/factoids.cfm.
c State populations served by CWS reported in WFRS are controlled using a product of the US Census state population estimate and the US Geological Survey’s estimate of the percentages of state populations on public water systems. Populations served by each CWS are controlled proportionately within each state. For details on the population controlling method used, see Calculating Fluoridation Statistics. US Geological Survey: Maupin, M.A., Kenny, J.F., Hutson, S.S., Lovelace, J.K., Barber, N.L., and Linsey, K.S., 2014, Estimated use of water in the United States in 2010: US Geological Survey Circular 1405, 56 p., https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/cir1405
d Fluoridated population divided by total population.
e Fluoridated population divided by population served by community water systems.
f Rank is based on highest to lowest percentage of population served by CWS receiving fluoridated water. Includes all states and Washington DC (51 total rankings).
g Complete data were not available from WFRS. State provided additional information.