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Fluoride in Victoria water

Every Victoria town we track, whether fluoride is added, what is changing, and who decides. About 90% of residents (2024).

90%

of residents (2024)

50

tracked towns with fluoride added

35

with none added (2 naturally fluoridated)

11

with a recent, upcoming or ongoing change

The rules

Who decides in Victoria

Law: Health (Fluoridation) Act 1973

Who decides: State government directs water corporations.

First fluoridated: Bacchus Marsh, 1962

What is changing

Recent and upcoming changes in Victoria

Daylesford Change comingCentral Highlands Water plans to fluoridate Daylesford by 2030.Echuca Dosing currently offDosing off since 8 September 2023 while the system is replaced. Works on a new system are expected to start in early 2027.Heywood Change comingIncluded in Wannon Water's reverse osmosis plus fluoridation program, due by 2029.Horsham Dosing below targetAveraged 0.61 mg/L in 2021-22 (latest report found), well below the 0.9 mg/L target.Inverloch Dosing below targetThe Lance Creek fluoride system was permanently shut in September 2024, so water is only partly fluoridated (about 0.48 mg/L in 2024-25) through blended Melbourne Water. A new sodium fluoride system is due in 2026-27.Korumburra Dosing below targetThe Lance Creek fluoride system was permanently shut in September 2024, so water is only partly fluoridated (about 0.48 mg/L in 2024-25) through blended Melbourne Water. A new sodium fluoride system is due in 2026-27.Port Fairy Change comingWannon Water chose a local reverse osmosis upgrade in 2024, with fluoride dosed back afterwards. Due by 2029.Portland Change comingWannon Water's $52.2m program will add reverse osmosis, which removes the natural fluoride, then dose fluoride back. Due by 2029.Stawell Change comingNorthern Grampians Shire asked the Health Minister in May 2025 to fluoridate Stawell and St Arnaud. No approval announced.Terang Recently changedFluoride dosing commissioned in 2025-26.Wonthaggi Dosing below targetThe Lance Creek fluoride system was permanently shut in September 2024, so water is only partly fluoridated (about 0.48 mg/L in 2024-25) through blended Melbourne Water. A new sodium fluoride system is due in 2026-27.
Every town

Victoria towns by fluoride status

Fluoride added 50

No fluoride added 33

Naturally occurring 2

Reporting

Victoria fluoride news and guides

America turns off the tap: what Utah, Florida, Louisiana and RFK Jr mean for Australia

Two US states have banned fluoridation and the US health secretary calls it a neurotoxin. Australian health authorities have not moved. Should they?

Does boiling water remove fluoride? No. Here's what does

Boiling leaves fluoride behind and slightly concentrates it. Only a few methods actually take it out.

Dental fluorosis: what those white marks on teeth mean, and how common it is in Australia

About 1 in 6 Australian children has some fluorosis. Here's what causes it, how severe it gets, and how to reduce the risk.

Switched on: the Australian towns that started adding fluoride in 2024-26

While Queensland councils opt out, Western Australia has been quietly expanding. Here's every new fluoridated supply we've found.

Fluoride mouthwash: how much fluoride it has, who should use it, and fluoride-free options

A daily fluoride rinse has about 220 ppm fluoride and isn't for children 6 and under. Here's how it compares with toothpaste and water.

Is fluoride a neurotoxin? What the IQ studies actually found

At high doses, the evidence is fairly strong. At Australian water levels, studies disagree. Here is every major study, with its numbers and its weaknesses.