[Water_news] 4. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: WATER QUALITY - 6/15/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

June 15, 2007

 

4. Water Quality -

 

 

Editorial:

Fluoride issue back on tap

The Eureka Times-Standard - 6/15/07

 

Fluoride has been a volatile topic ever since communities began adding it to water supplies back in the 1940s in order to reduce tooth decay. On one side of the issue are health professionals, and on the other are those with a number of concerns, from the danger of negative effects to the loss of personal choice.

 

In the last election, on the basis of the strong support of area dentists, we editorially opposed Arcata's Measure W, intended to stop the addition of fluoride to the city's water. Voters rejected the measure decisively.

 

Now Arcata and Eureka, which also fluoridates its water, and the county's five other wholesale customers of the Humboldt County Municipal Water District are asking the district to do a feasibility study of adding fluoride at the source. The other customers are the city of Blue Lake and the Fieldbrook-Glendale, McKinleyville, Humboldt and Manila community service districts.

 

A study would include the costs of modifying the Essex treatment plant and of stripping out the fluoride at the municipal level later, if residents vote to do so.

For now, we see nothing wrong in such a study, and once again airing out the pros and cons of fluoride. In the end, the individual community customers

will be asked to make the decision.#

http://www.times-standard.com/allopinion/ci_6148602