LIKE it or not, fluoride will be in our water supply on December 15.
Mackay Regional Council is almost finished the capital works required for water fluoridation, which must be implemented by December 31 to meet State Government legislation.
While council does not necessarily agree with fluoridation, it must comply with the legislation by the end of the year to receive $1.3?million in State funding for the associated capital costs.
Water and waste water services portfolio councillor Deirdre Comerford said she was sympathetic to those who were against fluoridation.
By law, if council refuses to fluoridate the town’s water, the government has the power to move in, install the infrastructure and begin fluoridation at ratepayers’ expense.
Water and waste services director Jason Devitt said fluoridation of Mackay’s water supply would cost ratepayers an estimated $60,000 a year.
The water treatment plant was required to add between 0.6 and 0.9 parts of fluoride per million parts of water, a council spokesperson said. That equated to one drop in a bath tub of water, he said.
Mr Devitt said a water flow meter, required for dosage purposes, would be inserted into a pipe at the Nebo Road water treatment plant on Saturday, December 12.
This requires a 12-hour closure of the plant, and Cr Comerford is asking residents to conserve water for three days before the work to allow a reserve of water to be built up.
Fluoridation was on track to begin on December 15, however, it could be delayed for a few days if there were any issues with this work, Mr Devitt said.
Sarina and Mirani water treatment plants must be fluoridated by December 31, 2010.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Mackay Regional Council follows standards recommended by the National Standards Authority. Also in our water supply is:
Aluminium Chlorohydrate (for flocculation or coagulation): 0.013 mg/l
Chlorine (for disinfection): 1.8 mg/l
Poly Electrolyte (for coagulation): 0.010 mg/l
Sodium Hydroxide (for pH adjustment): Currently zero, however, the dosage is determined by the pH of the water
Potassium Permanganate (for iron and manganese removal): Currently zero, however, the dosage is determined by iron and manganese levels
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