DuBOIS — DuBois City Council voted Wednesday night to authorize administration to begin preliminary steps toward potentially removing fluoride from the city’s public water supply, a decision officials emphasized is not final and will involve additional public notice and hearings.
Interim Co-City Manager Ben Kafferlin said the issue was raised at a prior meeting, when a council member questioned whether the city should continue its practice of water fluoridation. Initial discussion suggested a public referendum might be required, but further research determined removal would instead involve a permitting process through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
“This is still a process, but a less involved process,” Kafferlin said, explaining that it would require a major permit modification, public notification, and coordination with DEP.
Kafferlin said city staff and consultants conducted research following the last meeting, including outreach to other communities that have recently discontinued fluoridation. A detailed memo outlining the advantages, disadvantages, and required process was included in council’s agenda packet.
According to the memo, the city’s most recent Consumer Confidence Report lists fluoride as a water additive intended to promote strong teeth, with a detected level of 0.417 parts per million. Federal guidelines allow fluoride levels up to 4.0 mg/L, while Pennsylvania sets a lower maximum of 2.0 mg/L. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends an “optimal” fluoridation level of 0.7 mg/L for dental health.
The memo notes that major public health and dental organizations continue to support community water fluoridation, citing studies that associate it with roughly a 25 percent reduction in tooth decay in children and adults. Fluoridation is also described as a cost-effective, population-wide preventive measure that benefits residents regardless of income or access to dental care.
At the same time, the memo outlines concerns frequently raised by opponents of fluoridation, including objections based on personal choice, operational and worker-safety considerations, and broader scientific debate regarding total fluoride exposure. It also notes that handling fluoridation chemicals involves storage, training, and safety precautions, and that dental fluorosis — a typically mild cosmetic condition — can occur in young children exposed to excess fluoride from multiple sources.
Kafferlin told council that fluoride is “often a hot-button topic” and acknowledged strong opinions on both sides.
“We’ve probably kicked a bit of a hornet’s nest,” he said. “There are people that are very much for it and very much against it.”
He added that discontinuing fluoridation could provide operational benefits for the city, including reduced chemical-handling risks and long-term savings of approximately $5,000 per year.
“It does cost us something to have those chemicals — not just the literal dollars, but also the risk and added permitting,” Kafferlin said. “It is a toxic chemical that adds a level of risk for us handling it.”
Councilman Sam Mollica asked whether the city’s water contains any naturally occurring fluoride. DuBois Public Works Director Scott Farrell said he was not aware of any and noted that the water department supports removal due to the hazardous nature of the chemical.
City Solicitor Jason Sabol stressed that Wednesday night’s vote does not remove fluoride from the water.
“This is council authorizing administration to take further steps toward removal of fluoridation,” Sabol said. “It’s not a final vote to remove fluoride from the water.”
Sabol recommended holding a public hearing before any final decision, citing the level of public interest typically associated with the issue.
Kafferlin also emphasized that even if council ultimately decides to discontinue fluoridation, the change would not happen quickly.
“This is probably a two- or three-month process before, at six months, we would stop doing it,” he said. “This is not the last chance for public comment.”
Under DEP rules, discontinuing fluoridation would require a major permit amendment, advance public notice to water customers and medical professionals, and updates to the city’s annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Council unanimously approved a motion authorizing administration to proceed with drafting permit modifications and conducting any necessary studies related to the potential removal of fluoride from the city’s water system.
Original article online at: https://www.theprogressnews.com/news/local/dubois-council-authorizes-preliminary-steps-toward-possible-removal-of-fluoride-from-water/article_2d5acd8b-98eb-43fd-939c-849df2deb33b.html