PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – For the first time since the 1950s, a proposal to put fluoride in Hillsboro’s water supply is heading to the ballot in November.
The measure, as first reported by OPB, would require fluoridation at the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended level of 0.7 milligrams per liter to reduce tooth decay and improve oral health, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Oregon Health Authority.
On June 18, the Hillsboro City Council decided to put the proposal up for community vote after a pro-fluoridation group told the council in late 2023 they were pursuing a similar measure.
According to the City of Hillsboro, the last time water fluoridation was on the ballot was in the 1950s.
In 1952, Hillsboro City Council passed a proposal to add fluoride. However, an initiatve petition submitted by voters to hold a special election on fluoridation was rejected by the community the following year.
Currently, Hillsboro serves non-fluoridated water to customers west of Cornelius Pass Road and south of Highway 26.
Meanwhile, Tualatin Valley Water District serves fluoridated water to customers east of Cornelius Pass Road and north of Highway 26 to Helvetia.
The city is temporarily providing fluoridated water through the TVWD system to a small area of customers off of Southeast Butternut Creek Parkway in South Hillsboro, officials said, noting after pipeline construction is complete in the area, Butternut Creek customers will be switched to non-fluoridated water.
Citing the CDC, the city points out in 2020, 70% of the U.S. had access to fluoridated water.
Throughout Oregon, there are 43 fluoridated water systems.