To fluoridate or not? That is the question facing Hillsboro voters.
For the first time in 70 years, Hillsboro is posing an advisory vote to citizens on whether or not to fluoridate Hillsboro Water’s drinking water supply. The question will be on the ballot this November — however, because it’s an advisory vote, the city isn’t necessarily held to the decree of its citizens.
How did we get here?
The last time Hillsboro residents voted on fluoridation of their water supply was in 1952. The vote passed, but the following year a voter-submitted petition was filed to put fluoride on the ballot yet again. That time, it did not pass, and Hillsboro’s water has remained without fluoride since.
Last year, a pro-fluoride advocacy group informed the city of its intent to petition for a ballot measure, which involves gathering signatures from voters.
Instead, the city beat them to it. During a June 18 Hillsboro City Council meeting, councilors approved the community advisory vote that residents will see on the ballot in November. Councilor Kipperlyn Sinclair made the sole vote against the ballot referral.
What are we voting on?
The vote would advise the city on the community’s preference on fluoridating the water to the level recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Oregon Health Authority as a preventative measure against tooth decay.
Hillsboro has the authority to do this on its own, but has historically referred the question to voters — hence the advisory vote.
Wait, I thought my water had fluoride in it already?
It might. Hillsboro residents living east of Cornelius Pass Road and north of Highway 26 are served by the Tualatin Valley Water District and receive fluoridated water. Hillsboro residents living west of Cornelius Pass Road and south of Highway 26 — which is the majority of the city — are served by Hillsboro Water, which does not fluoridate its drinking water.
Hillsboro Water is temporarily serving fluoridated water to a small portion of southern Hillsboro located off S.E. Butternut Creek Parkway through the TVWD system. Those customers will be switched to the non-fluoridated water provided to the rest of its service area once pipeline construction is completed through the Cornelius Pass Road Butternut Creek Bridge project.
Nearby, Beaverton, Forest Grove and a portion of TVWD customers receive fluoridated water, but residents of North Plains, Tigard and Portland do not.
Original article online at: https://www.hillsboronewstimes.com/news/fluoride-on-the-mind-hillsboro-puts-water-additive-on-the-ballot/article_5f4c9c24-3e23-11ef-befe-efec6adf8550.html