Central Alabama Water customers may not have to wait much longer for fluoride to return to their drinking water — at least that’s the hope after a judge granted a temporary restraining order against the utility.
The order came Monday, just days after the city of Birmingham sued CAW, arguing the utility stopped fluoridating the water without giving the legally required 90-day notice.
For some, the ruling is a major victory, but not everyone is convinced the issue is settled.
CAW board member Sheila Tyson said she’s glad the courts are stepping in, but she’s still skeptical about whether the utility will follow through. Tyson said trust in the board’s leadership is wearing thin, especially after questions about how long fluoride may have been missing from the water supply.
“I believe if you put people in place, they should do the right thing,” Tyson said. “I think we have a fair group of judges that judge you by law, not by color, not by race, not by gender. They are dead wrong for not putting fluoride in our water and notifying us within the 90 days.”
She also raised concerns about accountability and said customers deserve proof that fluoride has actually been restored. Tyson said she wants transparency and even suggested independent testing to verify what’s in the water.
Court records indicate fluoride was supposed to be restored immediately under the judge’s order. But when asked whether that happened, CAW spokesperson John Matson declined to comment due to pending litigation.
The temporary restraining order remains in effect until Thursday at 5 p.m. At that point, CAW is expected to appear in court and show whether it gave proper notice before removing fluoride. A hearing scheduled for Thursday could determine whether the judge extends the order for a longer period.
Original article online at: https://www.wvtm13.com/article/alabama-central-water-fluoride-lawsuit-restraining-order-court-case/70889752