During its Monday, Oct. 15 meeting, the Ida Grove City Council heard from Sara Carmichael-Stanley of the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) regarding the city’s decision last June to stop adding fluoride to the city’s water supply.

The council’s decision in June to discontinue adding fluoride to the city water supply was due to a problem with a pump and a fluoride holding tank that was too large. There were concerns that too much fluoride might enter the city water supply, which could pose a health risk. The pump and tank issue, along with the natural fluoride levels in city water and the fact fluoride is readily available from other sources (tooth paste, mouth rinses, etc.) led the council to the decision to stop adding fluoride.

Carmichael-Stanley, water fluoridation coordinator with the Bureau of Oral and Health Delivery Systems Iowa Department of Public Health, and Dawn Ericson and Dick Sievers of Mid-Sioux Services attended the meeting Oct. 15 to provide information and encourage the council to resume adding fluoride to the city water supply in order to get back to what Carmichael-Stanley said is the optimal level of fluoride in water of 0.7mg/L. Ida Grove’s natural level in the water is averaging 0.4mg/L.

See the full story in the Oct. 24 edition of the Ida County Courier or subscribe online for instant access.

*Original article online at http://www.idacountycourier.com/?q=content/iowa-public-health-encourages-adding-fluoride-water-supply

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