Last year Cumbrians Against Fluoridation discovered that fluoride had not been added to the water that supplies the Cockermouth and Maryport area since 2006.

Local health authorities claimed they were unaware of the removal of fluoride by United Utilities.

There has been no apology to the many who had been buying bottled water unnecessarily for five years in order to avoid fluoride in their water.

A press release last week from the NHS contained the good news that the water fluoridation plant at Ennerdale water treatment works, which supplies fluoridated water to approximately 81,000 residents living in Workington, Whitehaven, Arlecdon, St Bees, Frizington, Salterbeck, Egremont, Cleator Moor, Beckermet and down the coast to Ravenglass and Bootle will be taken off line for essential cleaning and maintenance.

Ennerdale was refurbished at substantial cost to the taxpayer a decade ago but the hexafluorosilic acid that is used to fluoridate Lakeland water is extremely corrosive and a potential health and safety risk.

We hope that this temporary closure becomes permanent and that those with health problems such as kidney and thyroid disorders which can be aggravated by fluoride will be spared the worry and expense of having to buy bottled water.

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