KRONENWETTER, Wis. — The village of Kronenwetter will again take up the issue of removing fluoride from its drinking water during a public meeting this week, as sharp debate continues among residents and public health experts nationwide.
The discussion, listed as an agenda item for review and action at Monday’s Village Board meeting, follows months of deliberation on whether to discontinue water fluoridation — a practice long promoted by public health agencies as a key measure in preventing tooth decay.
Board members first reviewed the issue in November 2024 and directed staff to bring back information on the process, costs and community impact of eliminating fluoride from village water, according to meeting records. That follow-up discussion is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the Kronenwetter Municipal Center, 1582 Kronenwetter Drive.
Sources cited in village packet materials include reports from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The ADA and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both continue to officially support community water fluoridation as safe, effective and critical for public dental health. The CDC has called fluoridation one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.
But Kronenwetter’s review packet also references material from sources such as the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), a nonprofit advocacy group opposing water fluoridation. Independent reviews, including a 2023 assessment by Health Feedback, a science media watchdog, have rated FAN’s content as misleading or lacking scientific rigor. FAN admitted to posting an inaccurate, fluoridation-related claim online in November of last year.
The local debate intensified over the past week on the social media platform Nextdoor, with residents, including former Village Board members, weighing in. Posts show strong opinions both in favor of fluoride, citing dental health benefits, and against it, raising concerns about potential health risks and personal choice. Some posters referenced a high-profile decision in Florida, where the Legislature passed a statewide prohibition which made Florida the second state, behind Utah, to bar local governments from adding fluoride to public drinking water.
According to the ADA, removing fluoride from public water systems can disproportionately harm children and low-income residents who may not have regular access to dental care. A 2024 position paper from the AAP states that fluoride exposure at recommended levels is both safe and essential for reducing cavities in children.
Locally, some Kronenwetter trustees have expressed concerns over costs and whether the village should be in the business of adding substances to water. Others stress public health data supporting fluoride use. And online posts in a Nextdoor discussion show a sharply divided community—featuring former board members— as neighbors debate health benefits, parental choice and government responsibility. Posters in favor cite dental benefits and equity in care; those opposed voice concerns over personal consent and potential overexposure.
A 2022 report from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services showed that more than 89% of state residents served by public water systems receive fluoridated water. Still, several Wisconsin communities have opted out in recent years, mirroring a growing national trend.
What you need to know before tonight’s meeting
- What prompted tonight’s discussion: November 2024 action directed staff to prepare a detailed report.
- Key questions staff will present: How to halt fluoride dosing, estimated costs, implementation timeline, and possible health outcomes.
How Kronenwetter residents can get involved
- Meeting date/time: Tonight, July?14, 2025, at 6?p.m.
- Location: Lower-level board room, Kronenwetter Municipal Center, 1582 Kronenwetter Drive.
- Public comment: Village policy allows up to 15?minutes at the start of each meeting, with a 3-minute limit per speaker.
- Written feedback: Acceptable via the village clerk’s office before the meeting.
Original article online at: https://wausaupilotandreview.com/2025/07/14/kronenwetter-to-revisit-fluoride-debate-amid-national-controversy-resident-division/