City of Birmingham filed a lawsuit against CAW for removing fluoride from drinking water without proper notice, citing violations of transparency laws. The move risks worsening dental health, particularly for low-income residents and children lacking dental care access. CAW, the water authority, previously claimed it would follow notification statutes but allegedly delayed informing the public for years. A Harvard University study warns that nationwide fluoride elimination could cause 25 million additional decayed teeth in children within five years, with Scott Tomar, a population oral health expert, emphasizing that fluoride toothpaste alone cannot offset this risk.

Birmingham’s legal action seeks to reinstate fluoridation, highlighting tensions between public health mandates and utility decisions.