The City of Birmingham filed a lawsuit and requested an emergency court order this week against the local water utility, demanding it immediately resume adding fluoride to the public drinking water.
In a complaint filed Thursday in Jefferson County Circuit Court, the city accused Central Alabama Water of illegally and abruptly stopping its nearly 50-year practice of water fluoridation. A follow-up motion filed Friday asks a judge for an emergency temporary restraining order to force the utility to put the fluoride back in the water.
According to the court filings, the utility announced on March 20 that it was no longer adding fluoride to the water supply. City attorneys argue this violates an Alabama law requiring public water systems to give the state health officer at least 90 days’ notice before making any permanent changes to water fluoridation.
The lawsuit names Central Alabama Water, CEO Jeffrey Thompson, and five board members as defendants. The city claims the utility leaders concealed the decision from the public and city officials.
City officials say the sudden removal of fluoride is a “public nuisance” that threatens the dental health of the city’s 90,411 residents. The filings highlight that community water fluoridation is a cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay, particularly for low-income families and children who may lack access to other dental care.
Without the 90-day notice, the city says it was deprived of the ability to warn the public or prepare mitigation efforts for its vulnerable communities.
The city argues it will suffer “immediate and irreparable injury” if the water is not treated with fluoride. Birmingham is asking the court to declare the utility’s actions illegal and mandate the return of fluoride to the water supply while the lawsuit moves forward.
WVTM contacted Central Alabama Water for comment regarding the filing and was told, “Central Alabama Water does not comment on pending litigation.”
