FOIA Request Reveals Fluoridation Cost $5.3 million+ for New York City

F.Y.I - This is my December 2025 detailed request for costs regarding water fluoridation in New York City. Below that is the answer I received dated April 24, 2026. - Carol Kopf

Please provide the following information about water fluoridation in New York City for the last fiscal year for all five boroughs - which includes the cost of: 

1)  fluoridation chemicals, e.g. hydrofluosilicic acid

2) "neutralizing chemicals" to reduce acidity of fluoridation chemicals

3) chemicals and other supplies needed to test that water fluoride levels are correct (and the name of the test equipment used)

4) maintenance, paper work, repairs, new parts

5) Building maintenance

6) Repair or replacement of parts, machines, and buildings due to corrosion

7) Analysis of samples

8) Record keeping

9) training employees about handling fluoridation chemicals safely

10) protective gear

11) employees involved in monitoring the fluoridation equipment to prevent malfunction or failure

12) salaries, costs and number of employees working full time on the fluoridation program

13) prorated costs of employees working part time on the fluoridation program

14) any other fluoridation-specific expenses (Basically, I'm looking for all the costs involved in NYC's water fluoridation program)

I also would like copies of

a)  the certificates of analysis that are required to accompany every fluoridation chemical delivery.

b)  any correspondence from state or federal agencies regarding fluoridation in the past year

c)  a copy of the training program employees must undergo and time spent on that training (how often and how long)

d) any other fluoridation training that does not involve their jobs, i.e. teaching them that fluoridation is safe and effective

e) any flyers, emails, brochures, videos, webinars, memo's, posters, and/or advertisements regarding fluoridation in NYC

Please waive the fees because this information is for the good of the public

Thank you, Carol Kopf 

FOIL-2-25-826-06137

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The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply, answered that NYC spent over $5,000,000 on fluoridation in 2025. The letter is dated April 25, 2026:

1) Fluoridation chemicals, e.g. Hydrofluosilicic acid cost – $2,350,560.00

2) “Neutralization Chemicals” to reduce acidity of fluoridation chemicals – $1,476,657.00

3) Chemicals and other supplies needed to test the Fluoride levels:

a) Hach CA610

i) TISAB – $5400.00

ii) Standard 1 - $1872.00

iii) Standard 2 - $2640.00

iv) Maintenance Kit (reference probes, ½ cell solution and fluoride tip) - $13824.00

v) Tubing– $6264.00

b) Metrohm Model MR885

i) Reference Electrode - $1536.00

ii) TISAB – $1896.00

iii) Sodium Fluoride Stock and LCS Standard - $425.00

c) HFS Assay

i) Sodium Hydroxide - $251.00

ii) Saturated Potassium Nitrate - $1443.00

iii) Bromothymol Blue - $220

d) Hach HD440D

i) Ionic Strength Adjuster - $990.00

ii) Standard 1 - $800.00

iii) Standard 2 - $1,100.00

iv) Standard 3 – $1,200.00

e) Hach SL250 Fluoride Check Keys

i) Chem Keys for Fluoride - $1,625.00

4) Maintenance, paperwork, repairs, new parts – $1,436,280.33

5) Building maintenance – Not reasonably described to perform a search as required by POL89(3)

6) Repair of replacement of parts, machines, and buildings due to corrosion – Not reasonably described to perform a search as required by POL 89(3)

7) Analysis of samples – $58,320.00 (considering $60 per hour)

8) Record keeping – See item 7

9) Training employees about handling fluoridation chemicals safely – Not reasonably described to perform a search as required by POL 89(3)

10) Protective gear - $500.00

11) Employees involved in monitoring the fluoride equipment to prevent malfunction or failure – Not reasonably described to perform a search as required by POL 89(3)

12) Salaries, costs of employees working full time on the Fluoridation program – No such record exists

13) Prorated cost of employees working part time on the Fluoridation program - Not reasonably described to perform a search as required by POL 89(3)

14) Any other Fluoridation-specific expenses – Not reasonably described to perform a search as required by POL 89(3)