TWEED Shire’s drinking water has been without fluoride for almost three months after a system failure at the Bray Park Water Treatment Plant.
Tweed Shire Council said the fluoridation system has been offline since November 25 due to significant maintenance work required on a fluoride storage tank.
The council has notified NSW Health of the interruption and said fluoride dosing will resume as soon as repairs are completed.
Despite the suspension, the council said the region’s tap water remains safe to drink and continues to meet all health and quality standards.
Fluoride is added to public water supplies to help protect teeth in both children and adults and reduce rates of tooth decay across the community.
Under the NSW Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1957, a water utility can not stop adding fluoride unless approval is revoked by the Secretary of NSW Health.
The council said it is working to restore the system as quickly as possible and will advise the community when fluoridation resumes.
While the system remains offline, residents concerned about dental health are advised to maintain good oral hygiene, including using fluoride toothpaste and limiting frequent snacking.
Original article online at: https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/lismoretimes/news/fluoride-dosing-suspended-at-tweed-water-treatment-plant/