Chicoer | June 10, 2025 | By Michael Weber Posted on June 10, 2025 United States,
California
OROVILLE — The City of Oroville’s quest to discontinue fluoridation of tap water continues, and the process is lasting much longer than Mayor David Pittman had hoped to see.
In the meeting, councilors voted unanimously to remove the requirement, citing “personal choice” for residents not to have the chemical in city drinking water.
Mayor David Pittman said Monday that the CPUC is seeking to hear residents’ input on the matter with a public participation hearing, but expressed disappointment in repeated hearings.
“It’s now becoming a year-long process to get something really simple to stop,” Pittman said, adding that the city already worked to host hearings for public input. “So it just seems we’re repeating the same story here.”
The commission has scheduled two public participation hearings on Sept. 23 — at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. — at the Oroville City Council Chambers regarding Cal Water’s request to discontinue water fluoridation, made on behalf of the city.
Pittman said he thinks the compelling need to not have fluoride in the city’s water is that scientific articles suggest fluoride shouldn’t be ingested because of health effects.
“Dental health care is still a valuable item, but it’s not something you should be drinking in your body,” Pittman said.
Pittman said the city met with CPUC in March requesting to remove the requirement, and was told a public hearing would need to be held.
Cal Water Oroville District Manager Loni Lind said the utility submitted its application to discontinue fluoridation to the CPUC in fall 2024, and submitted further information in March. Cal Water customers in Oroville will be notified about the hearing by mail in the coming months, she said.
“It is very normal for the CPUC to hold public participation hearings in advance of decisions they make like this, which would affect an entire community,” Lind said. “They want to make sure the voices of the community are heard.”
Lind said the CPUC is expected to make a decision on its application after hearings are closed and input is submitted.
