Bill to prohibit fluoride in public drinking water systems advances

SALT LAKE CITY — Fluoride in public drinking water systems fostered a robust debate before a legislative committee, with supporters extolling its benefits to dental health and opponents decrying its dangers due to needless overdoses of the "waste product" that can cause neurological development problems, especially in growing fetuses and young children.

HB81, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain, passed the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee on a 10-3 vote on Thursday, with the majority of those people testifying in favor of individual choice rather than mass "medication" of drinking water

The bill would prohibit the introduction of the chemical in public drinking water systems by the end of May and upends current systems that practice fluoridation of their water, including Brigham City, Salt Lake and Davis counties.

The sponsor said the bill stems from a federal district court ruling in September which said that 0.7 milligrams of fluoride introduced into drinking water systems causes unreasonable risk. The ruling directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to issue guidance.

The judge said, "The 'optimal' water fluoridation level in the United States of 0.7 milligrams per liter is nearly double that safe level of 0.4 milligram per liter for pregnant women and their offspring. In all, there is substantial and scientifically credible evidence establishing that fluoride poses a risk to human health."

Both Davis and Salt Lake counties passed voter initiatives to introduce fluoride to drinking water, but it did not mean all residents wanted it.

A South Weber resident in Davis County said no one in her community wanted it, but they were outnumbered.

Ronald Martinson, who holds a doctorate degree and is chairman of the South Davis Water District Board, had this to say: "As an elected board member, it's my duty to provide safe, clean drinking water to my fellow citizens and to ensure a safe workplace for our workers. Mandatory water fluoridation doesn't allow me to do that now. HB81 is especially needed because the current statute says that once a citizens initiative mandating water fluoride passes, it can only be changed by vote of the people. The elected officials have no control over this," he said.

"As a district, we have no control, and that takes all the decision making about fluoride out of our hands, even though we're elected water board members, and it leaves our districts liable for any harm done by adding fluoride to the water," he continued. "In addition, the current statute empowers a minority of eligible or registered voters to mandate the addition of prescription medication to our water because it doesn't have a minimum voter turnout, so if only 10% turnout, they can pass fluoride."

Gricius stressed that fluoridation tablets would still be available by prescription for those who want it, so her measure does not eliminate personal choice, and the money would be better spent on public education.

Both general managers of the Jordan Valley Water District and Weber Basin Water District testified in favor of the bill.

Because Weber Basin serves both Weber and Davis counties, general manager Scott Paxman said his district had to invest millions in eight stations to deliver the fluoridated water to Davis County residents only to bypass other customers not involved in the voter movement.

Brigham City's water district had to spend $100,000 for its effort, but not all that water is being used to drink and instead is used for toilets, washing machines and lawns — meaning there is very little return on the taxpayers' money, the city's mayor, D.J. Bott, added.

Rod Thornell, a Herriman dentist and current president of the Utah Dental Association, said a statewide resolution voted on by all the delegates unanimously favored keeping fluoride in drinking water systems.

"We recognize community water fluoridation is the most effective and equitable method for delivering the appropriate therapeutic level of fluoride to prevent tooth decay," he said.

To not add fluoride would have disastrous effects, another dentist added.

"The effects are staggering from a health and a financial impact standpoint. Dental disease is still the most chronic disease among children and adults, and a major reason why school days are missing, work days are missed," said Brent Larson, a recently retired dentist. "Fluoridation is the most effective tool, bar none, to fight and to prevent dental disease. As wonderful as dental treatment is, prevention is better. Water fluoridation decreases dental disease by 25%."

Lorna Rosenstein, of Utah Water Watch, has been tracking fluoride in water systems for more than two decades and pointed out the regions that passed fluoridation of water were handed unfunded mandates and told to react quickly.

She asserted the result was well-meaning people getting involved in the science of mass medication of a substance that comes from hydroflurosilicic acid that as a concentrate in its undiluted form is classified as a hazardous, poisonous material that, while it contains fluoride, also contains arsenic, lead, copper, manganese, iron and aluminum. It is a byproduct from phosphate mining operations

She said residents were falsely assured mechanical leaks would be an impossibility, even though she knows of at least nine — including a 2019 Sandy overfeed that sickened dozens and ended up with a lot of finger-pointing.

An independent investigation found failure at all government levels for the accidental overfeed that was not publicly acknowledged for days. In some instances, residents were told there was a problem with their water heater that was causing the ill health effects. Salt Lake County, which passed the voter mandate, said the failure was not its fault because it was the city's delivery system. Sandy said it was not its fault because the health department should step in.

It was 10 days after the overfeed that the state Division of Drinking Water ordered the city to issue a "no drink" order.

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