News Archive

Ensuring access to fluoride in drinking water to prevent tooth decay has been a public health goal for decades, but the debate over the benefits, costs, optimal levels and risks of fluoridation has led Kansas to trail its neighboring states in the percentage of the population with access to fluoridated water. Those debates may resurface, […]

Johnson County’s two biggest water suppliers are holding the course on water fluoridation, with no plans to stop as anti-fluoridation views gain traction nationally. Both WaterOne, which provides water service for 17 Johnson County cities, as well as the city of Olathe, which operates its own water department, have taken note of an uptick of […]

The City of Olathe has had fluoride in its drinking water since a citizen vote in 1959, though that process may be reconsidered by the Olathe City Council hinging on certain studies and court decisions. In late-2024, a California District Court ruled the Environmental Protection Agency’s accepted level of fluoride poses “an unreasonable risk” of […]

Once considered vital to the prevention of tooth decay, the addition of fluoride to public water systems is now losing favor in Kansas as evidence grows of the negative effects of high concentrations of the mineral. A federal court has recently ruled that fluoride in drinking water poses “an unreasonable risk” to children, and ordered the United […]

The debate in Abilene, Kansas, could be a precursor to other communities considering the move because members of the incoming Trump administration are advocating to get rid of fluoride in drinking water. Experts say dental health is at stake. The small town of Abilene, Kansas, was the center of a fight over fluoride in drinking […]

Note: The issue of adding fluoride to Abilene’s water supply has been addressed several times over the last 40 years. Most recently, the pros and cons of fluoride were discussed this past spring leading the Abilene City Commission — in a 3-2 vote — to remove fluoride from city water on April 22; and then […]

Fluoride The commission returned to the discussion of whether to discontinue adding fluoride to the water supply. Trevor Witt and John Kollhoff said they have heard equal support and opposition to discontinuing the ordinance. “I go back to my main point and rational for this is that, it’s not critical to the safety of the […]

Excerpt Infrastructure will be the major talking point for Emporia City Commissioners during their regular action session Wednesday. … commissioners will consider approval for ordinances authorizing the city to match the Kansas Department of Health and Environment requirements for water fluoridation. *Original article online at https://kvoe.com/news/item/48759-emporia-city-commission-action-meeting-coming-wednesday

The city had a new fluoride pump and tank installed at the water treatment plant after the Parsons City Commission agreed to restart fluoridation of the public water supply. *Original online at http://www.parsonssun.com/gallery/image_80e885d2-aa72-11e8-aa18-eb6048138e39.html

In a meeting held Thursday night, commissioners discussed whether or not the city would move forward with the grant. Although the grant covers some of the funding for the project, the city will invest an extra $100,000, which is already budgeted, to continue with the project. The city stopped the process of adding fluoride to […]