Officials have postponed until next month a decision whether to add fluoride to the public water supply on the Bolivar Peninsula.

The Bolivar Peninsula Special Utilities District had a public presentation on water fluoridation Tuesday, but a decision was not made because of the absence of several board members, said Jennifer McKnight, the district’s general manager.

“Since it was a big decision, it was better to wait until all of the board could be there,” she said.

McKnight said about 15 residents attended, and three of those spoke out against fluoridation, saying that they had learned about negative effects of fluoridation through the Internet, The Daily News and personal experience.

“The board wanted to hear how the public felt about it,” she said.

McKnight said Tom Napier, a representative of the Texas Department of State Health in Austin, addressed the residents’ concerns and also gave a presentation on the benefits of water fluoridation.

Fluoride may pose a health risk if consumed in large quantities, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The peninsula’s water supply naturally has 0.1 milligrams per liter of fluoride, a number that McKnight said would be increased to 0.8 to comply with Environmental Protection Agency standards.

The board will meet again on July 10. McKnight said she was confident that the board would make a decision then.

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