SEQUIM — The City Council decided Wednesday not to fluoridate city water after a community survey showed strong objection to the chemical additive.

By rejecting fluoridation by a 4-1 vote, the Sequim council lived up to its promise to base its decision on the results of the survey.

Councilman Paul McHugh cast the lone vote favoring fluoridation, which advocates say helps to promote dental health.

“We’re pleased that they followed the majority vote,” said Einar Denstad, a member of Clallam County Citizens for Clean Drinking Water, a fluoridation opposition group.

The city received 667 responses to the fluoridation survey out of 1,446 forms mailed with utility bills, according to City Manager Bill Elliott.

“No” votes outnumbered “yes” votes on the survey by nearly a 2-1 margin — 444 to 223.

More than 775 survey forms weren’t returned.

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