ADPH, state lawmaker question if Central Alabama Water followed law for removing fluoride from public water – WBRC 6 News

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Less than a week after Central Alabama Water (CAW) announced its intention to remove fluoride from public drinking water at one of their filter plants, officials with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and a state lawmaker are questioning if the utility followed state law to do so.
Section 22-23-21 of the Code of Alabama, enacted in 2018, says any public water system seeking to discontinue putting fluoride in their water supply must provide written notice to the State Health Officer no fewer than 90 days before implementing the change.
In a statement to WBRC on Thursday, March 26, ADPH said CAW filed their intention to remove fluoride from their Shades Mountain filter plant on March 12, 2026. According to ADPH the change would be implemented June 10, 2026.
The statement from ADPH goes on to question if CAW has already removed fluoride from the water at that plant, saying in part, ”CAW’s press release of March 20, 2026, and recent statements by John Matson, CAW’s Public Relations Manager…indicate that CAW has already discontinued adding fluoride to its drinking water at Shades Mountain…”
ADPH said if CAW has already stopped putting fluoride in water at the Shades Mountain plant, then CAW would be required by law to continue putting fluoride in the water supply until proper notice is given to the State Health Officer.
Ala. Code§ 22-23-21(a) provides that any intent by a public water system to initiate a permanent change in the fluoridation status of its water supply must provide written notice to the State Health Officer no fewer than 90 days before initiating the change. If discontinuance of fluoridation has already occurred, CAW is required pursuant to Ala. Code § 22-23-21(b) to resume fluoridation of its water supply to its previous level until proper notice is provided to the State Health Officer. The notice filed with the department states that CAW seeks approval to discontinue fluoridation at the Shades Mountain Filter Plant, effective June 10, 2026; however, CAW’s press release of March 20, 2026, and recent statements by John Matson, CAW’s Public Relations Manager, to AL.com indicate that CAW has already discontinued adding fluoride to its drinking water at Shades Mountain and that it discontinued fluoridation at its three other filter plants in 2023 and 2024. The department has no record of receipt of any notice from CAW to discontinue fluoridation prior to March 12, 2026.
CAW said in their most recent statement to WBRC they believe they have and are following the law.
CAW has also said three other filter plants stopped fluoridating water under the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) as early as 2023, before the water utility board was restructured through state law to create CAW in 2025.
State Representative Patrick Sellers (D-District 57) said whether fluoride was removed under previous leadership or not, it’s ultimately up to the current leadership of the CAW to follow the law.
“You can’t necessarily blame it on the old board or old leadership when the buck stops with those that are in charge today,” Sellers said.
Sources tell WBRC that CAW and officials with ADPH will meet Friday, March 27, to discuss the decision to remove fluoride from drinking water.
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