Thirty-two Oklahoma communities in Oklahoma were awarded a Water Fluoridation Quality Award this week from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The winners included Oklahoma City’s Draper Water Treatment Plant and Hefner Water Treatment Plant, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. For 2013, a total of 2,184 public water systems in 33 states received these awards. From time to time, the City of Edmond purchases water supply from Oklahoma City’s Hefner Water Treatment Plant.

The City of Edmond does not fluoridate its water supply, said Casey Moore, city spokesperson.

Edmond’s water treatment plant at Arcadia Lake was designed for fluoridation when it was built in the 1980s, said Kris Neifing, Water Resources manager. The city depends on its 56 water wells plus the plant for its water system.

“If we add it at the plant we would have to add it at each individual well in the system,” Neifing said.

“Trying to monitor that and set it up for correct dose is a huge task, so it was never implemented,” he said.

Neifing said he has not heard any reasoning to not fluoridate the water supply except that it would be an operational challenge that would require more staffing, he said.

Neifing has taken calls from people on both sides of the issue, he said.

“We’re not political in treating water. We just want to put out the safest product that we can in meeting all the requirements of the Safe Water Drinking Act and to be in compliance with DEQ and EPA regulations,” Neifing said.

Thirty-two Oklahoma communities in Oklahoma were awarded a Water Fluoridation Quality Award this week from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The winners included Oklahoma City’s Draper Water Treatment Plant and Hefner Water Treatment Plant, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. For 2013, a total of 2,184 public water systems in 33 states received these awards. From time to time, the City of Edmond purchases water supply from Oklahoma City’s Hefner Water Treatment Plant.

The City of Edmond does not fluoridate its water supply, said Casey Moore, city spokesperson.

Edmond’s water treatment plant at Arcadia Lake was designed for fluoridation when it was built in the 1980s, said Kris Neifing, Water Resources manager. The city depends on its 56 water wells plus the plant for its water system.

“If we add it at the plant we would have to add it at each individual well in the system,” Neifing said.

“Trying to monitor that and set it up for correct dose is a huge task, so it was never implemented,” he said.

Neifing said he has not heard any reasoning to not fluoridate the water supply except that it would be an operational challenge that would require more staffing, he said.

Neifing has taken calls from people on both sides of the issue, he said.

“We’re not political in treating water. We just want to put out the safest product that we can in meeting all the requirements of the Safe Water Drinking Act and to be in compliance with DEQ and EPA regulations,” Neifing said.

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