The fluoride status of Murwillumbah's public water supply, who decides, and how to check it yourself. Page last updated 6 November 2026.
Main Tweed supply fluoridated since 1976. Dosing was off from 25 Nov 2025 to Aug 2026 (tank repairs, then a fluoride supply shortage). Now dosing again.
Lismore and Ballina were directed to fluoridate in 2015. Byron Shire and Nimbin were not. A look at the Northern Rivers' long fight over the tap.
Tweed went nine months without it. Bowral has had none since July 2025, Mudgee since 2020, Nyngan since 2015. Broken Hill is dosed on paper but barely registers. No council voted for any of this. Here's the list.
Health authorities, including the NHMRC, recommend drinking fluoridated tap water to reduce tooth decay. Some residents prefer to reduce their intake, and that's a personal choice.
6 November 2026: Corrected start year to 1976 and added the November 2025 to August 2026 outage.
Law: Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1957
Who decides: Councils apply, NSW Health approves. Only the Health Secretary can approve stopping.
Coverage: about 93% of residents (2017). First fluoridated: Yass, 1956.
Dosing restored in August 2026 after a nine-month outage from 25 November 2025.
Yes. Fluoride is added to Murwillumbah's water. Main Tweed supply fluoridated since 1976. Dosing was off from 25 Nov 2025 to Aug 2026 (tank repairs, then a fluoride supply shortage). Now dosing again.
Councils apply, NSW Health approves. Only the Health Secretary can approve stopping.
Look up Tweed Shire Council's annual drinking water quality report, which lists fluoride in mg/L by supply zone. You can also ask the utility for monthly readings.
No. Boiling leaves the fluoride behind and slightly concentrates it. Reverse osmosis, distillation and activated alumina filters remove fluoride. Read more.