City leaders in Lynden will vote Monday night on a plan to remove fluoride from the city’s drinking water system.
The city’s municipal water supply has been fluoridated since 1959, but recently, community members have come forward asking for that practice to end. Some questioned how safe it is to include the mineral in tap water.
Fluoride is used to help prevent tooth decay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers water fluoridation to be one of the greatest public health success stories of the 20th century.
State law requires that notification go out to city water system customers and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). The state Department of Health said 46% of Washington residents receive fluoride-treated drinking water. Lyden is the only city in Whatcom County to have fluoride included.
The Lynden City Council previously banned fluoride in a 4-3 vote in July of last year, but Mayor Scott Korthuis vetoed the action. The mayor cited a lack of evidence that fluoride causes any actual harm when it is in the water supply.
City leaders have since introduced a new measure, which will be taken up Monday evening.
The Lynden City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Lynden City Annex on 205 4th S.
Original article online at: https://komonews.com/news/local/lyndens-fluoride-debate-returns-as-city-council-revisits-last-years-vetoed-ban-dentist-tooth-decay-mineral-council