Mayor Gene McGee listens to a presentation at the Ridgeland Board of Aldermen meeting in Ridgeland, Miss., on June 17, 2026 MFP Photo by Elijah Hurewitz-RavitchSpeaking at Ridgeland’s Board of Aldermen meeting on June 16, Bureau of Public Water Supply Deputy Director Karen Walters explained that only around 200 of Mississippi’s 1,200 water systems fluoridate their drinking water. But, she said, “the state health department is certainly a proponent of y’all participating in the community water fluoridation program.” Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee told the Mississippi Free Press in June that, after not fluoridating since the pandemic, much of the city’s equipment was degraded. McGee expects the repair process to take about four months, with Board of Aldermen approvals along the way, he told the Mississippi Free Press. Mississippi Free Press stories are always free because we believe everyone should have access to quality journalism.