THE Director General of NSW Health has approved a direction under section 6A of the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1957 to Upper Lachlan Shire Council to commence Fluoridation of the Crookwell Water Supply.
Council has installed a new Fluoride Dosing system and intends to commence dosing fluoride into the Crookwell water supply commencing from Monday March 21, 2011.
The full cost of the dosing system has been met by the NSW Department of Health. Fluoride is added to water supplies to strengthen teeth and to prevent dental decay. More than 90 per cent of NSW’s population has fluoridated water on tap.
The World Health Organisation and other health authorities recognise that water fluoridation is the safest most effective and equitable way of improving oral health in the whole of the population.
The science behind water fluoridation has stood the test of time for more than a century. In fact fluoridation is widely recognised as one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.
Apart from the oral health benefits, the addition of fluoride to the town water supply has no other impacts. Fluoride already occurs naturally in the Crookwell water supply and does not impart a taste or odour to the water.
The dosage of fluoride to the water equates to just one part per million (1mg/L). With fluoride now available in the community water supply, any residents who may supplement their oral health with fluoride tablets are advised that this practice is no longer necessary and to cease this supplementation.
The dosing system installed at Crookwell meets all requirements of the NSW Department of Health Code of Practice and has been approved for use by the NSW Office of Water. The dosing system has a number of safeguards to ensure continuing accurate dosage and the systems operation is closely regulated by Council and the NSW Department of Health.
The community can look forward to a safe and effective water supply system that will contribute to improvements in the health of its residents. Residents are encouraged to visit www.fluoridenow.com.au for further information on fluoride dosing of public water supplies, alternatively please contact Council on 48301053.
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