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Fluoridation in the Otay Water District
The Otay Water District (Otay)
purchases drinking water from the San Diego County
Water Authority (CWA) that has been treated by the
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
(Metropolitan). Otay also purchases drinking water
directly from the CWAs Twin Oaks Treatment Plant
and from the Helix Water Districts R.M. Levy
Treatment Plant.
Metropolitan is a consortium of Southern California
cities and water districts that provides drinking
water to residents in Los Angeles, Orange, San
Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura
counties. Metropolitan provides approximately half
of all treated water consumed in San Diego County.
The CWA is a consortium of 24 local water agencies
and is a wholesaler of water in San Diego County.
The Helix Water District is an East County water
agency serving the cities of La Mesa, El Cajon,
Lemon Grove, portions of the community of Spring
Valley, and various unincorporated areas near El
Cajon.
In 2003, the Metropolitan board of directors adopted
a policy of converting its water treatment processes
to add fluoride, a tooth cavity-fighting agent, to
reduce and control tooth decay. State law required
this action. The California Fluoridation Act of 1995
mandates that water systems with more than 10,000
service connections fluoridate their water supply
when outside funds are available to install and
operate a fluoride system.
At approximately the same time as Metropolitan, the
Helix Water District also converted its treatment
process to add fluoride and began delivering
fluoridated water. With the opening of its Twin Oaks
Plant, CWA began delivering fluoridated water as
well.
Some fluoride is already present in our water
supply. Most water in San Diego County comes from
the Colorado River or the Sierra snow pack. As water
passes over the surface of the earth, from rain and
snowmelt to streams and rivers, it picks up fluoride
through the natural erosion process. Fluoride is
present in our water supply at approximately 0.2
parts per million (ppm), with a range of 0.1 to 0.4
ppm. Metropolitan, CWA, and Helix supplement the
existing fluoride in the water supply raising it to
approximately 0.8 ppm, the level optimal for dental
health.
Due to the blending of waters within our
distribution system, which varies by region and time
of year, fluoride levels will vary. Otay laboratory
personnel closely monitor fluoride levels throughout
our service area and post this information to our
website on a monthly basis.
We encourage customers who are already taking or are
considering taking fluoride supplements to talk to
their medical or dental professional. For additional
information regarding fluoridation, please visit any
of the websites listed below the following fluoride
table:
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Otay Water District
Fluoride Levels (in parts per million)
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Location
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May
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June
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July
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Aug.
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Sept.
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Oct.
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Nov.
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Dec.
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Jan.
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Feb.
2010
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Mar.
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April
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May
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June
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Spring Valley, La Presa, and Rancho Del Rey,
Bonita
Long Canyon,
and Terra Nova communities in east
Chula Vista.
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0.9
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0.7
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0.7
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0.8
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0.7
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0.5
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0.8
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0.8
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0.7
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0.7
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0.5
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0.6
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0.7
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0.6
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Rancho San Diego, Jamul
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0.9
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0.7
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0.7
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0.7
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0.7
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0.7
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0.7
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0.7
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0.7
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0.6
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0.5
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0.6
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0.6
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0.6
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East Chula Vista
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0.9
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0.7
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0.8
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0.7
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0.7
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0.6
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0.8
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0.7
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0.8
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0.7
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0.5
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0.6
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0.7
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0.7
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Otay Mesa
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0.8
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0.7
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0.7
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0.8
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0.8
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0.7
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0.7
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0.7
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0.6
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0.6
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0.5
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0.5
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0.6
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0.6
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Links:
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