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Fluoride consultation affecting water supplies in the North East and parts of Alston

The Government’s Department of Health and Social Care conducted a public consultation to gather views and evidence on a proposal to extend fluoride into water supplies received by customers across the North East of England, supplied by Northumbrian Water.  The proposal would also affect the water supplies of some homes and businesses in parts of Alston in the North East of Cumbria, supplied by United Utilities.

The consultation period took place between 25 March 2024 and 31 July 2024 and on 7 March 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that they will be proceeding with the expansion of water fluoridation across the North East. 

This is not a water company decision. It is a Government decision in line with its dentistry policy and beliefs that fluoride in water supplies can deliver improvements in dental health. As yet, there are no confirmed timeframes to the expansion and any questions or queries should be directed to waterfluoridationconsultation@dhsc.gov.uk. Further information can also be found here.

 

  • Since the closure of our treatment works in the local area, United Utilities customers in Alston and Nenthead (in the North East of Cumbria) have been supplied with water produced at a Northumbrian Water treatment works.

    We receive the water via a collection point on our pipe network and then distribute the water to homes and businesses. This supply arrangement has been in place since the closure of our treatment works around 20 years ago. Customers are still billed by United Utilities, or their billing retailer if a business, and receive a service from us.

    There is a legal duty to undertake a period of public consultation before introducing, varying or extending fluoridation to public water supplies. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) held a period of consultation to gather opinions and provide feedback opportunities on their proposal. As the proposed introduction would impact some of our customers, they were invited to take part in the consultation which ran between 25 March and 31 July 2024.

  • All communications and the associated consultation was led by the Department of Health and Social Care. Further information and updates are available by clicking the link below. 

    Find out more

  • The consultation was led by the Department for Health & Social Care and was available online between Monday 25 March 2024 and Wednesday 31 July 2024. An announcement was made on Friday 7 March that the decision to expand water fluoridation across the North East would proceed. 

  • We no longer have an operating water treatment works to serve this area and customers receive their water supply from a Northumbrian Water treatment site. Following the consultation period, the Government have confirmed that they will be expanding water fluoridation in the North East. Further details are available here 

  • All queries should be directed to the Department of Health and Social Care by emailing waterfluoridationconsultation@dhsc.gov.uk.