BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Questions are being asked about what led to Central Alabama Water’s decision to stop adding fluoride to its water.
As CBS 42 reported Friday, a CAW spokesperson said the utility stopped adding fluoride to its water at the end of last week.
According to Central Alabama Water Public Relations Manager John Matson adding fluoride to water was expensive and hard on equipment. That, combined with safety concerns for employees who handled the chemicals, is why the utility has decided to stop adding fluoride to its water.
“This decision was based on our operational and financial and safety needs,” Matson said. “The equipment that we use to handle fluoride is specialized equipment, and because the chemical is so corrosive, it wears that equipment out very quickly.”
Matson said replacing the equipment used to add fluoride to water would cost $3.7 million.
“We understand that there are strong opinions on both sides of fluoride, and we’re not making a value judgment here,” Matson said. “This is simply an operational and safety consideration for us.”
Matson said the decision was made by the utility’s leadership. There was a Board of Directors meeting Friday. Fluoride, however, was not mentioned during that meeting.
Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson, who serves on the Central Alabama Water Board of Directors, said she was never consulted on the decision.
“We have been watching the Birmingham Water Board site,” Tyson said. “So the person, one of my employees that works at my office, told me, he said, ‘Well, they did put some on the site.’ It was probably about 1:10 on Friday. On Friday, he was out of that meeting by 12:15. So, the decision that he made, he made about 12:15 to 1? He already knew.”
Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. David Hicks said fluoride is a substance found naturally, which helps prevent tooth decay and cavities.
Hicks said the amount of fluoride found naturally in Jefferson County is not enough, which is why Central Alabama Water was previously adding it to water. He said removing it will cause dental problems in the area.
“The point is that if we don’t fluoridate the water that is to be expected based on rigorous scientific research is that we’re going to have an increase in dental tooth decay and cavities, particularly for children,” Hicks said. “And that results not only in extra costs, but you’re talking about kids going to school with pain in their mouth, missing school.”
Matson did not say whether or not Central Alabama Water would reevaluate adding fluoride back to its water.
Original article online at: https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/central-alabama-water-board-member-says-she-was-not-notified-of-decision-to-remove-fluoride/