LAMAR COUNTY, Miss.—North Lamar Water Association stopped adding fluoride to its drinking water, joining a growing list of Mississippi water systems ending fluoridation. 

The association’s notice, postmarked May 5, says its board voted to stop fluoridation April 6, citing supply, safety, testing and equipment concerns. The water system serves about 12,500 residents in Lamar County. 

RHCJC News reported in September 2025 that North Lamar was considering the change. The association did not respond to requests about the board’s final decision before mailing notices to customers. 

North Lamar Water Association is the third southeast Mississippi water system to end fluoridation. Sunrise Utility Association in Forrest County ended fluoridation in late 2025 and Lucedale announced in April that it would stop fluoridating its municipal water system May 15. Mississippi Today reported in January that Poplarville was among 26 more Mississippi systems in the process of discontinuing fluoride treatment.

Mississippi State Department of Health Community Water Fluoridation Discontinuation Public Notification #2 (PN #2) Document North Lamar Water Association HAS VOTED TO STOP ADDING FLUORIDE TO YOUR DRINKING WATER ON THE FOLLOWING DATE: APRIL 06, 2026
A notice from the Mississippi State Department of Health says North Lamar Water Association voted to stop adding fluoride to its drinking water on April 6, 2026. The notice cites supply, safety, testing and equipment concerns, along with a natural fluoride reading below the state’s recommended operating range. Photo by RHCJC News

Community water fluoridation adjusts naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water to levels shown to help prevent cavities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says drinking fluoridated water reduces cavities by 25%. The Mississippi State Department of Health supports fluoride treatment in public drinking water supplies, though neither the state nor the federal government requires it. 

The North Lamar Water Association most recent natural fluoride reading was about 0.33 milligrams per liter, below MSDH’s recommended operating range of 0.6 to 1.2 milligrams per liter. 

Dental leaders warn ending fluoridation could increase tooth decay and dental costs, especially for families with limited access to regular dental care. North Lamar encourages customers to talk with a dentist or health care provider about fluoride substitutes or other treatments. 

For more information, contact the North Lamar Water Association at 601-264-1157 or northlamarwater@comcast.net or the Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Oral Health at 601-576-7518.

This article first appeared on RHCJC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Jayla Jones, a native of Stonewall, Mississippi, is a student at Jones College majoring in journalism. She is a reporter for the RHCJC’s Southeast Mississippi Planner.

The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center, housed at The University of Southern Mississippi, is dedicated to enhancing the media landscape in southeast Mississippi by prioritizing impactful, issue-oriented, and people-centered reporting.

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