Final answer:
The United States has a goal of achieving 80% fluoridation of community water systems by 2020. As of 2012, 75% of Americans had access to fluoridated water, even though around 100 million did not. Community water systems, particularly large municipal ones, play a pivotal role in achieving this goal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The national goal for the percentage of the U.S. population receiving fluoridated water is to reach 80% by the year 2020. As of 2012, approximately 75% of the population, or over 210 million people, were already receiving water with enough fluoride to prevent tooth decay through community water systems. The importance of community water fluoridation is underscored by the fact that it is recognized as the most cost-effective method of fluoride delivery, providing a 25% reduction in tooth decay among children and adults.
Despite the benefits and the progress toward reaching this goal, around 100 million Americans still do not have access to fluoridated water. Public water systems play a critical role in the provision of fluoridated water, with large municipal water systems supplying 82% of the U.S. population. The community water systems that provide fluoridated water are primarily supplied by groundwater (78%), even though a larger proportion of the U.S. population (68%) is supplied year-round by systems using surface water.
Fluoride is naturally occurring, and all water contains some level of it. However, often natural levels are too low to prevent tooth decay, leading to the necessity of adjusting fluoride levels in public water systems. It's also notable that aside from water, fluoride-containing products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses also contribute to the prevention of tooth decay, with concentrations varying by region and typically higher in American toothpaste compared to some European countries.
The challenge to reach the national fluoridation goal also gestures to a larger issue of water access and sanitation globally, with a significant portion of the world's population lacking safe water and sanitation services. Water stress is an increasing concern, which could affect two-thirds of the global population by 2025 if current trends continue. The measures to improve fluoridation levels in the U.S. attest to a broader necessity to manage water resources and public health initiatives effectively.