CHENEY — The city is considering removing supplemental fluoride from its water system.
Mayor Elsa Martin released a memo Sept. 3 explaining the proposal following discussion about removing fluoride from the city’s potable water system supplied by six operating wells.
Another well is offline because of contamination, and an eighth well is used only for irrigation.
Untreated water from the wells contains naturally occurring fluoride at about 0.3 milligrams per liter, according to the city. Fluoride injection systems were installed at each well in the early 1970s.
Current state Department of Health guidelines call for a fluoride concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter, with an allowable range of 0.5 to 0.9 milligrams per liter, according to Martin’s memo.
The city’s existing fluoride equipment is aging and would need to be replaced or decommissioned to meet the standard.
“The city remains committed to providing safe, reliable and sustainable drinking water to the Cheney community,” Martin wrote.
Martin said replacing the equipment and controls would cost several hundred thousand dollars.
Replacing the fluoride system is not the best use of city money, Martin said, noting Cheney faces several other water infrastructure needs.
Those priorities include providing backup power to wells, addressing PFAS contamination and increasing water production capacity.
The city could also face additional treatment costs in the future.
Martin said the state Department of Health has expanded its list of primary contaminants to include minerals such as manganese and iron, which could require expensive filtration systems at individual wells.
Martin’s recommendation is based on prioritizing limited resources rather than ruling out fluoridation permanently, she said.
If naturally occurring fluoride levels decrease or the water infrastructure improves, Cheney could consider replacing its fluoridation equipment in the future, she said.
For now, Martin said staff believes money that could be spent replacing the fluoride equipment should instead go toward more immediate needs.
Original article online at: https://www.cheneyfreepress.com/story/2026/09/10/news/cheney-weighs-fluoride-removal/45667.html#google_vignette