INDEPENDENT laboratory testing has shown that fluoride levels in Geelong drinking water are currently about 10 per cent of those planned.

Water tests commissioned by the Geelong Advertiser showed that fluoride is slowly being introduced to our drinking water.

Accredited testing laboratory Ecowise Environmental analysed four samples collected from taps in four different Geelong suburbs last week that showed fluoride levels at about 10 per cent of the target of 1mg/litre.

The samples were taken from taps in East Geelong, North Geelong, Manifold Heights and Belmont.

The Manifold Heights reading was the highest at 0.13mg/litre. East and North Geelong came in at 0.10mg/litre.

Ecowise Environmental Geelong Laboratory Manager Frank Matthies predicted the results would come in low, since it had only been a month since Barwon Water started adding the fluoride.

Barwon Water confirmed yesterday it would be mid to late August before the optimum level reached all customers.

General Manager Water Systems Carl Bicknell said Barwon Water had been progressively increasing the amount of fluoride in Geelong’s water supply over the past three weeks.

Mr Bicknell said the commissioning process initially involved testing using water instead of fluoride solution, followed by the introduction of low levels of fluoride to ensure systems were functioning correctly.

“By the end of last week, the fluoride level at the Wurdee Boluc plant, which supplies Geelong, had reached 0.6 milligrams per litre, or 0.6 parts per million,” Mr Bicknell said.

“However, it can take up to two weeks for water from the treatment plant to reach some customers.

“The low levels in water sampled by the Geelong Advertiser are consistent with the levels measured at the Wurdee Boluc treatment plant after allowing for the delay in delivering the water across the network.”

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