Hartley to quit adding fluoride to water

The City of Hartley will quit adding fluoride to its water later this year. The mineral, which is added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay and other dental conditions, strengthens the hard outer surface of teeth. Its addition to municipal water supplies has been common practice among utilities for more than seven decades. […]

Future of aquatic center uncertain due to staff shortage

Council decided to stop adding fluoride to the Williamsburg drinking water after much discussion over several council meetings. Deciding factors included difficulty in regulating the fluoride, corrosion to equipment at the new water treatment plant and that fluoride is already available in toothpaste and mouthwash. Council members Jeff Steinkamp, Jake Tornholm, Dale Walter, Anne Zalenski […]

Williamsburg Council revisits fluoride problems.

The Williamsburg City council continued discussion about the fluoride corrosion issues at the water treatment plant during its Jan. 23 meeting. Matt Wildman, with HR Green, briefed council members after they requested cost estimates for moving the fluoride room and questioned the current levels of fluoride in the water that reaches customers. Wildman explained it […]

Council addresses fluoride leaching issue.

Discussion about the fluoride leaching problem at the water plant topped the agenda at the Dec. 12 meeting of the Williamsburg City Council. Matt Wildman, a representative from HR Green, explained that because of a design flaw, the fluoride “dust” was going to continue to escape from its designated room. Since fluoride is a corrosive […]

Letter: Toxic metal exposure can be harmful

Dr. Aaron Bernstein, the chair of American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health and Climate Change and a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital says that “… exposure [of heavy metals] from all sources should be minimized. Toxic metal exposure can be harmful to the developing brain. It’s been linked to problems with learning, cognition […]

Iowa City awarded grant to upgrade water fluoridation system

Excerpt: IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – A $13,846 grant from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation will allow the City of Iowa City to upgrade its community water fluoridation equipment and purchase lab equipment and supplies. … “The City is in full support of these upgrades to ensure the health and safety of Iowa City […]

Keokuk lands $25,000 grant for fluoride upgrades

KEOKUK – The City of Keokuk, Iowa, will upgrade its community water fluoridation equipment thanks in part to a $25,000 grant from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. Community water fluoridation (fluoridation) is the adjustment, up or down, of natural fluoride levels in water systems to prevent tooth decay (cavities). According to the Iowa Department […]

CDC Recognizes 94 Iowa Community Water Systems for Excellence in Water Fluoridation

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced that 94 community water systems in Iowa have been awarded Water Fluoridation Quality Awards from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The award recognizes water systems that achieved excellence in community water fluoridation by maintaining a consistent level of fluoride in drinking water […]