<div style="margin-top: 20px;"><img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/citylogo-utilities.png" alt="City of Columbia Missouri Utilities" width="175" height="101" style="margin-right: 5px;">
<div style="float: right; margin-right: 0px; margin-left:20px; width:106px; height: 116px;"></div>
<div style="padding-top:40px;
text-align:center;">
<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
</div>
<div style="clear:both; text-align:center; padding-top: 20px;">
<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">September 4, 2025</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Paige Adams
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />Utilities Department
<br />paige.adams@como.gov</p>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">City of Columbia Water Utility awarded 2024 State Fluoridation Quality Award</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display: inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The City of Columbia Water Utility has been awarded the 2024 State Fluoridation Award from the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) and the American Dental Association (ADA) for demonstrating excellent community water fluoridation and maintaining a consistent level of fluoridated water throughout 2023-24.</span></p>
<br />
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to a level that is effective for preventing tooth decay. Every dollar invested in fluoridation saves at least $32 per person per year in averted costs for dental treatment. Community water fluoridation has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.</span></p>
<br />
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Missouri, 76.8% of residents receive fluoridated water benefits from community water supplies.</span></p>
<br />
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The City of Columbia has made significant contributions on behalf of community water fluoridation and to the prevention of tooth decay in the community.</span></p>
<br />
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For more information about fluoridation in water, visit </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://health.mo.gov/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">health.mo.gov</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<br />
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ASTDD is a national nonprofit organization representing the directors and staff of state/territorial public health agency programs for oral health. ASTDD formulates and promotes the establishment of national dental public health policy, assists state/territorial dental programs in the development and implementation of programs and policies for the prevention of oral diseases; builds awareness and strengthens dental public health professionals' knowledge and skills by developing position papers and policy statements; provides information on oral health to health officials and policy makers, and conducts conferences for the dental public health community.</span></p>
<br />
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ADA's mission is to help dentists succeed and support the advancement of the health of the public. They are guided by their core values, which include integrity, excellence and a dedication to bringing evidence-based insights that empower dentists to provide quality oral care for all patients. They advocate for public health by focusing on crucial issues such as access to care, the rules and regulations that surround the practice of dentistry and much more.</span></p></div>
<br />
<div class="content"></div>
<br />
<div class="attachments"></div>
</div>
<div id="footerline">
<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
</div>
<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
</div>
<style>
#pressrelease{ margin:20px; margin-top: 0px;}
.attachments{margin-top: -10px;}
@media print {
body {font-size: 90%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;}
#pressrelease{ margin: 0px; }
}
</style><p><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=9372">View this release on CoMO.gov or access a sharable link.</a></p><p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of Columbia's Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.</p>
<p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>Archived releases can be viewed online at:
https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/directory.php</p>
<p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and follow the instructions provided at https://www.como.gov/Web_Mail/ </p><style>div{margin: 10px;}</style>