LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Fluoride could return to public drinking water in Lincoln County.
Public utility officials are proposing a fix to the county’s fluoride system that could cost as much as $1.4 million. The system has been broken since it failed in 2018.
Commissioners voted Monday night to table or delay any conversations on the fix until a later date, following a detailed presentation from a county employee. The repairs are not only expensive but also extensive. Tanks, pumps, piping, and sensors need to be replaced. The design of the new system alone would cost $150,000.
While a handful of Lincoln County residents spoke in opposition to the return of fluoride, the topic has recently become a focus of national political debate.
President-elect Trump’s Health and Human Services nominee, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has taken on leading dental groups. Kennedy argues risks outweigh any benefits, but the American Dental Association calls fluoride a safe way to prevent tooth decay in kids and adults.
In February 2024, leaders in Union County voted to stop putting fluoride in their part of their water supply. During that meeting, Commissioner David Williams argued it was the right move, “let’s embrace freedom of choice and let people who wish to use fluoride, do just that.”