Council votes to stand pat on fluoride

After a month spent pouring over information provided by individuals both for and against adding fluoride to the city’s water, the council once again addressed the topic as an agenda item. Mayor Mike Emerson began the discussion telling those attending that council members had received a lot of information and heard from those concerned, an […]

Despite known Iowa nitrate risks, EPA focuses on fluoride

The EPA has set its sights on fluoride. The Environmental Protection Agency announced on April 7 that it will “expeditiously” review the health risks of fluoride in our drinking water to inform the agency’s standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin praised Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. […]

The tooth of the matter: Council hears fluoride pros and cons

The debate over fluoridated water came back to the table during the May 19 Iowa Falls City Council meeting after Michael Krogh had asked the board about it during their April meeting. This month it appeared as an agenda item. Oral Health Consultant with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Mindy Wells spoke […]

Council hears fluoride removal request

The Iowa Falls City Council opened their meeting with public comment and heard from resident Michael Krogh at the start of Monday’s monthly meeting. He asked the council to remove fluoride from the town’s water source. “Essentially I would like to take the fluoride out of the drinking water,” Krogh began. “I don’t know how […]

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 […]