AUTHORITIES are still struggling to deliver the correct amount of fluoride in water supplies, with 18 instances of under-dosing this year.

Residents of Murgon, within the South Burnett Regional Council area, went without any fluoride at all in this year’s second quarter as the dosing unit remained offline for maintenance.

South Burnett recorded five instances of under-dosing, while the Central Highlands Regional Council had four.

Western Downs, Mackay and Toowoomba councils and Gladstone Area Water Board also under-dosed fluoride.

Health regulations require the water to receive between 0.7mg/L and 0.9mg/L but in some cases as little as 0.2mg/L was delivered.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said it appeared the majority of the under-dosages occurred during maintenance of equipment.

“I think that’s understandable and to be expected,” he said.

“In Central Highlands, it’s my understanding that the data could have been incorrectly measured.”

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