Methods to remove fluoride from Calgary’s tap water

Calgary is, once again, adding fluoride to its municipal water supply (since June 30, 2025). Calgary’s drinking water was fluoridated from 1991 until 2011, then discontinued…until now. The controversial practice of water fluoridation presents a challenge for residents who do not wish to drink or bathe in water to which fluoride has been added.

Fluoride is very difficult to remove from tap water…much more challenging to remove than chlorine and other potential health hazards found in municipal water supplies. A simple water filter will not accomplish this task. Your best solutions for removing fluoride from drinking water are…

Top Picks     
Most efficient and user friendly
AquaTru countertop water filter with Glass Carafe
AquaTru countertop water filter Classic with large carafe

Most thorough    
Precision water distillers
Megahome countertop water distiller

Here is why we make these recommendations…

Methods to remove fluoride from drinking water

There are 4 ways to remove fluoride from drinking water…distillation, reverse osmosis, filtration with bone char, and filtration with activated alumina.

Distillation is the most thorough for removing fluoride from drinking water. Distillers require electricity and 4-6 hours to produce a batch of water. With larger distillation systems this process can be automated. Distillation removes all minerals, including fluoride. Remineralization after purification is easy to do and may be desirable.

MOST THOROUGH OPTIONS for fluoride removal from drinking water
Precision water distillers
Megahome countertop water distiller

Reverse osmosis systems can vary in effectiveness for fluoride reduction and in water use efficiency. All RO systems waste some water in the process of producing purified water.
The reverse osmosis process removes all minerals from water…some systems include remineralization after purification. Maintenance will require regular replacement of filter cartridges and annual or bi-annual replacement of the reverse osmosis membrane.
Undersink reverse osmosis systems are supplied automatically by water pressure and do not require electricity. They process water into a holding tank in which bacteria can breed if the system is not properly maintained. For this reason it is recommended to also install a UV lamp (requires access to electricity) downstream from the RO system.

MOST USER-FRIENDLY OPTIONS for fluoride removal from drinking water
AquaTru glass CARAFE Countertop Water Purifier
AquaTru CLASSIC Countertop Water Purifier
     
The AquaTru Countertop reverse osmosis  systems are uniquely designed to minimize waste water and to avoid the problem of potential bacterial growth. They quickly produce small batches of purified water, with remineralization as a built-in option. This method requires electricity.

Filtration with bone char (installed at point of use) is an effective, but short-lived, method of fluoride reduction. Effectiveness against fluoride diminishes rapidly with use. To maintain effectiveness, bone char filters must be replaced at frequent intervals (approx. 3 months)…more often than many users might find convenient or affordable. Look for certified data on the tested rate of decline in fluoride reduction based on gallonage…this may be hard to find…to determine how many gallons of water the filter can process before it can no longer provide sufficient protection from fluoride.
Bone char is produced by charring animal bones at high temperatures, resulting in a granular material that consists mainly of tricalcium phosphate…not an appealing option for vegans. 

Filtration with activated alumina is the weakest method of fluoride reduction. Effectiveness is dependent on low pH (below 6) and on very frequent filter replacement as the capacity of the activated alumina to intercept fluoride is limited and will be rapidly exhausted.

Methods to remove fluoride from bath & shower water

Shower filters are not an effective method of sustained fluoride reduction even though some shower filter companies make this claim.Fluoride is very difficult to remove from water…much more so than chlorine and most other potential health hazards found in municipally treated tap water. Showering involves hot water and fast flow rates. These conditions do not provide sufficient contact time with the filtration media to effectively intercept fluoride. An unsightly volume of fluoride-reducing filtration media such as bone char, plus miserably slow flow rates, plus frequent replacement of the filtration media, would be required to accomplish sustained reduction of fluoride for showering.

Distillation works well for removing fluoride from drinking water but cannot supply sufficient volumes of water for fluoride-free bathing and showering.

A whole house reverse osmosis system can be installed on the water line immediately after it enters the home and before the hot water heater. Such a system can reduce the amount of fluoride in all water used in the home including for bathing and shower, laundry, and even flushing toilets! This method is extremely expensive to install and maintain. It also sends a tremendous amount of water to waste.
This whole house method can only be installed in an apartment or condo that is supplied by a hot water heater that is contained within the suite itself because the water must be treated before it goes to the hot water heater.

Bone char filters can be used for whole house filtration. The effectiveness is short-lived. Fluoride reduction will drop off if the bone char filters are not replaced at inconveniently frequent intervals.
This whole house method can only be installed in an apartment or condo that is supplied by a hot water heater that is contained within the suite itself because the water must be treated before it goes to the hot water heater.

BEST OPTION FOR FLUORIDE-FREE BATHING & SHOWERS
Install a whole house system that includes bone char filters. Follow with a point of use fluoride filter for drinking water.

Activated alumina would require low PH water and frequent changeouts to be effective for fluoride reduction in a whole house installation and could not be installed in an apartment or condo that is supplied by a hot water heater that is not contained within the suite itself.

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More articles about water fluoridation
Fluoride FAQs
WHO made water fluoridation a good idea?
The Biophysics of Fluoride by Neurosurgeon Dr. Jack Kruse