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HARTINGTON — Hartington City Attorney Nikki Brandt told City Council members Monday they have no choice but to continue putting fluoride into Hartington's water system.
In January, the Council discussed putting the issue to a vote of the people and were preparing to get the issue on the May 14 ballot.
Brandt said her research shows that is not possible, however. If a city did not want to flouridate its water, it only had unti l June 2010 to vote on the issue.
The Nebraska State Legislature adopted a law in 2008 requiring most larger communities to fluoridate their public water. Nebraska Revised Statute § 71-3305 mandates all cities and villages with a population of 1,000 or more add fluoride to their public water supply, unless the water already contains sufficient natural fluoride.
State law allowed communities to opt out, but only through a local election.
The window for having such an election has since closed, though, Brandt said, and now the city is required to continue its flouridation efforts.
City Councilman Cody Christensen proposed the idea of eliminating fluoridation, saying the move could save the city some money.
He said Hartington has spent more than $19,000 over the past five years on chemicals used to add fluoride to the system.
Christensen also noted that equipment used to inject fluoride must be kept up to date. If the city continues fluoridation, that equipment will need to be updated, he said. Hartington operates four wells, meaning four injection pumps are required.
Christensen said he believes the expense is not justified. “This is just an attempt to save some money,” he said, adding he feels there is no reason fluoride should be added to the wate r supply.
National health organizations, however, continue to support community water fluoridation as a public health measure.
The American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that fluoridated drinking water reduces tooth decay by about 25% in children and adults, even with other sources of fluoride such as toothpaste.
The CDC has also named community water fluoridation one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
Supporters say fluoridation is one of the most cost-effective ways to help prevent cavities across entire communities, regardless of age or income level.
