The City of Calgary said it’s going to need additional time to reintroduce fluoride to the city’s water supply.

According to an update Thursday from the City of Calgary, fluoride is expected to be reintroduced into the water supply by the end of the second quarter.

It’s the latest in a series of delays around the project, which dates back to a successful plebiscite during the 2021 municipal election. Later in November of that year, Calgary city council voted in favour of reintroducing fluoride to the water.

Calgary had anticipated that fluoride would eventually be added to the water by the fall of 2024. Ongoing challenges with resources and supply chain delayed it to 2025.

On Thursday, they said equipment has been installed at both the Glenmore and Bearspaw water treatment plants. They are now in the commissioning phase.

“After undertaking the initial commissioning steps, we determined it will require additional time to allow us to ensure all equipment and systems are checked, inspected and tested to ensure they are all performing as designed,” they wrote in a prepared media release.

The City said that the reintroduction of fluoride into the system required infrastructure upgrades. The prior fluoride apparatus had reached the end of its lifecycle in 2011 and was removed when Calgary ended water fluoridation at that time.

More than 62 per cent of Calgarians voted in favour of returning fluoride to the water in the 2021 election, though the issue has been divisive, and voted on multiple times in the past.

Cost more than doubled from the initial estimate

An early estimate (2020) of $10.1 million has ballooned to $28.1 million for capital costs. The City of Calgary said the initial estimate was high-level with limited information.

“As we went through the detailed design aspects, we were able to fully realize the scope of work required for the project. That work expanded to include an additional building,” read a response to questions.

“The current infrastructure costs are $28.1 million with additional annual costs of $1million for operating and maintenance at both plants.”

The City said that once they have confirmed a reintroduction date they will provide an update four weeks in advance.

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek told reporters outside council chambers on Thursday that when dealing with the water system, it was important to make sure things were done right.

“When it comes to the safety of the drinking water supply, and it comes to taking all the measures that are needed to ensure people are getting the best possible service from us, if it’s going to take a little bit more time, I can certainly understand that,” she said.

“I don’t have all the details around why it’s going to take a little longer but I do trust that our water teams are acting in the best interest of Calgarians drinking water safety.”

Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner said she’s aware of procurement challenges and supply challenges related to the reintroduction of fluoride to the water.

“While it’s disappointing, I know there are many people who are greatly in favour of reintroducing this, taking the time to do it well and to do it right is what is important,” she said.