Fluoride initiative drive begins in Pierce County

A group of Pierce County residents is sponsoring an initiative and petition drive to force a public vote before water suppliers can put fluoride in their drinking water. The move derives from last year’s decision by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Board to order the county’s larger water purveyors to fluoridate their water. The health board […]

Port Angeles council won’t revisit fluoridation decision

The Port Angeles City Council refused a request Tuesday night from a half-dozen people to revisit its Feb. 18 decision to fluoridate the city’s water supply. Sequim resident Bob Forde said he was “quite appalled” at the council’s decision, adding “as far as I’m concerned the battle isn’t over.” He didn’t elaborate. Deputy Mayor Orville […]

Bonney Lake files lawsuit to reverse fluoridation rule

The City of Bonney Lake has joined six water utilities and a grass-roots group in the escalating legal fight against local fluoridation. Bonney Lake has filed the latest lawsuit against the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department in an attempt to stop forced fluoridation of drinking water. The lawsuit was filed Nov. 8 in Pierce County Superior […]

Utility districts file suit to halt fluoridation

Five Pierce County utility districts announced Friday they had sued to keep from having to put fluoride in public drinking water. After hearing comments on the contentious issue, the Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health on Oct. 2 unanimously voted to require utilities serving more than 5,000 people to fluoridate their water by Jan. 1, 2004, […]

Lakewood Challenges Health Department Mandate

A countywide fluoridation mandate will go before voters in Lakewood this fall. The Lakewood Water District’s Board of Commissioners unanimously has agreed to let ratepayers vote whether the district should fluoridate its water, a directive from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. The health board in April decided to require all county water systems serving 5,000 […]

Tacoma/Pierce County will study effect of fluoride on salmon

The Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department will study the environmental impacts of fluoride – including its effect on salmon – before continuing with plans to mandate water fluoridation. The Board of Health made the decision Wednesday after meeting in executive session to discuss the possibility of lawsuits from fluoride opponents. No other community in Washington – […]

Lakewood water users will vote on fluoridation

Lakewood water users will decide in a fall election whether to comply with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s fluoridation mandate. The Lakewood Water District board of commissioners agreed to allow its Lakewood customers to vote on whether to add fluoride to their water. Many health experts say the additive prevents tooth decay. The district will […]

Dental insurer helps with fluoridation

Washington’s largest dental insurer will give Pierce County $420,000 to help pay for fluoridating its drinking water. The grant is the biggest ever awarded by the Washington Dental Service Foundation. The Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health voted earlier this month to require fluoridation of all county water systems serving more than 5,000 people. The mandate […]