How a global fluoride shortage is affecting Maine’s water systems

Fluoride Shortage Forces Temporary Halt Across Maine Water Districts

A nationwide shortage of fluoride has disrupted drinking water treatment in several Maine communities, affecting roughly one in six residents served by the state's largest water systems.

The Lewiston-Auburn Water District, Portland Water District, and Kennebec Water District have all temporarily suspended fluoridation in recent weeks. Storage tanks at the Lewiston-Auburn facility, which typically hold thousands of gallons of liquid fluoride, currently sit empty. Portland Water District paused fluoridation for two weeks, while Kennebec Water District halted the practice for 24 days while awaiting its next shipment.

Together, Portland and Kennebec water districts serve approximately 225,000 customers. When combined with the roughly 40,000 people served by Lewiston and Auburn, the shortage has touched about 265,000 Mainers.

"We have already placed an order for our next delivery," said Michelle Clements, public relations director for Portland Water District. "Given ongoing supply chain challenges, we are now placing orders further in advance to help maintain an adequate supply."

Water officials emphasize that the disruption poses no safety risk.

"This is strictly a dental health issue," said Robbie Bickford, water quality manager at Kennebec Water District. Because the interruptions are temporary, the state does not require public notification.

The root cause of the shortage remains a matter of debate. Several American suppliers have attributed the disruption to the war in Israel, a major source of fluoride chemicals, which they say has drained manufacturing capacity and delayed shipments. The American Fluoridation Society, however, points to a different set of factors: hurricane damage to domestic fluoride plants in the eastern United States and the diversion of chemical supplies to the semiconductor and solar panel industries.

Outside Maine, cities like Baltimore and Milwaukee have responded by cutting their fluoride doses in half to stretch existing supplies. The American Fluoridation Society has warned that such reductions fail to provide the cavity-fighting benefits of full-strength fluoridation.

Some Maine districts managed to avoid disruption entirely. Bangor Water District anticipated the shortage and stockpiled supplies early. In Sanford, procurement schedules have left managers with a full year's supply on hand. The Augusta-area district uses a powdered form of fluoride, which has been easier to source than the liquid version.

The form of fluoride used appears to matter significantly. Portland and Lewiston rely on hydrofluorosilicic acid, a liquid product sourced almost entirely from international producers, making them more vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions.

The shortage arrives at a politically sensitive moment. Federal health officials, under U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have urged the Environmental Protection Agency to fast-track a review of fluoride's risks. The move has added fresh scrutiny to a public health practice that has been standard in American water treatment since the 1940s.

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in soil and water. Health authorities have long recommended adding small amounts to public drinking water to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay. In Maine, 65 water systems currently fluoridate their supplies, reaching approximately 520,000 people across 133 communities. State regulations require systems that fluoridate to maintain a concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter, roughly equivalent to three drops in a 55-gallon barrel.

Not all Maine communities have chosen to add fluoride. Kittery voters opted out four decades ago, with some residents citing allergy concerns. In 2016, residents of the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Wells Water District voted to end the practice after debates over the ethics of medicating the public water supply. Boothbay voters considered a similar measure in 2022 but ultimately chose to continue fluoridation following a contentious debate over personal choice versus public health.

Ed Molleo, executive director of the Maine Water Utilities Association, warned that the supply problems may not resolve quickly. "This thing could have a long tail on it," he said.

For now, districts are focused on getting their systems running again. In Auburn, Superintendent Michael Broadbent said the district is ready to resume fluoridation the moment supplies arrive.

"As soon as we get it," Broadbent said, "we'll start treating the water with fluoride again."