Creston in Grand Rapids in Kent County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Monroe Avenue Water Filtration Plant / The Beginning of Water Fluoridation
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 3, 2021
1. Monroe Avenue Water Filtration Plant / The Beginning of Water Fluoridation Marker
Inscription.
Monroe Avenue Water Filtration Plant, also, The Beginning of Water Fluoridation. .
Monroe Avenue Water Filtration Plant . During the late nineteenth century, Grand Rapids residents relied on private companies to provide purified drinking water. As the city grew, so did the need for clean water. In 1900 a city-owned facility was proposed, but plans were thwarted by a bribery and conspiracy scandal involving city officials. Ten years later, however, citizens approved a bond to build this facility, which was designed by Rudolph Hering and George Fuller of New York. The plant was expanded in 1924, and a pipeline to Lake Michigan was added in 1938. A final expansion occurred in 1957, but the plant ceased operation in 1961. At its peak, this facility could treat sixty million gallons of water per day.
The Beginning of Water Fluoridation . On January 25, 1945, Grand Rapids became the first city in the world to add fluoride to its public water supply. The city, along with the U.S. Public Health Service, the Michigan Department of Health, and the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, began a ten-year study to determine the effectiveness of fluoride in the prevention of tooth decay. The city was chosen as a test site because of its large population of school-age children; its closeness to Lake Michigan, which is mostly free of natural fluoride; and its proximity to Muskegon, which served as the control city. By 1955 the study had shown a sixty-five percent reduction in tooth decay and led to the adoption of fluoridation as an accepted public health measure.
Monroe Avenue Water Filtration Plant
During the late nineteenth century, Grand Rapids residents relied on private companies to provide purified drinking water. As the city grew, so did the need for clean water. In 1900 a city-owned facility was proposed, but plans were thwarted by a bribery and conspiracy scandal involving city officials. Ten years later, however, citizens approved a bond to build this facility, which was designed by Rudolph Hering and George Fuller of New York. The plant was expanded in 1924, and a pipeline to Lake Michigan was added in 1938. A final expansion occurred in 1957, but the plant ceased operation in 1961. At its peak, this facility could treat sixty million gallons of water per day.
The Beginning of Water Fluoridation
On January 25, 1945, Grand Rapids became the first city in the world to add fluoride to its public water supply. The city, along with the U.S. Public Health Service, the Michigan Department of Health, and the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, began a ten-year study to determine the effectiveness of fluoride in the prevention of tooth decay. The city was chosen as a test site because of its large population of school-age children; its closeness to Lake Michigan, which is mostly free of natural fluoride; and its proximity
Click or scan to see this page online
to Muskegon, which served as the control city. By 1955 the study had shown a sixty-five percent reduction in tooth decay and led to the adoption of fluoridation as an accepted public health measure.
Erected 2009 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number S0719.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 42° 59.355′ N, 85° 40.222′ W. Marker is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Kent County. It is in Creston. Marker is at the intersection of Monroe Avenue Northwest and Caledonia Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north on Monroe Avenue Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1430 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids MI 49505, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Monroe Avenue Water Filtration Plant / The Beginning of Water Fluoridation Marker
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 3, 2021
4. Monroe Avenue Water Filtration Plant
Grand Rapids Landmark July 1, 1980
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 3, 2021
5. Monroe Avenue Water Filtration Plant
An American Water Landmark
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 3, 2021
6. Monroe Avenue Water Filtration Plant
Michigan Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
Photographed By Nathan Bierma
7. Marker in front of the former Monroe Avenue Water Filtration Plant
Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 264 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 5, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 7. submitted on March 5, 2024, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
