Shreveport isn’t any closer to reintroducing fluoride to its drinking water than it was when supplies ran out.
A nationwide fluoride shortage related to conflicts in the Middle East means Shreveport can’t replenish its supply of the water additive meant to support locals’ oral health. The city ran out of fluoride completely on Aug. 21 and the water department doesn’t expect getting more soon.
Interim Director of Water and Sewerage Brandon Snead said Shreveport’s supplier of fluoride, Pencco, can’t say when they’ll have more to sell.
“It’s always ‘maybe later this week,’ with no promises. Honestly, I don’t foresee this being resolved very soon,” Snead said.
Louisiana law requires Shreveport to add fluoride to its water, something the city has been doing since the 1950s. The state health department was informed even before supplies ran out, Snead said, and only required the city inform residents and reintroduce fluoride when it’s able to.
Shreveport residents soon will be getting notices with their bills informing them that the water now doesn’t have fluoride in it, Snead said.
Though the water department is looking for suppliers other than Pencco, Snead said it’s not an easy search. Smaller suppliers have their own customers also dealing with the nationwide shortage, and Snead said the city just hasn’t identified anyone with the volume of product it needs.
Fluoride is not used in the process of making the water from Cross Lake safe to drink, rather as an oral health supplement.
Snead emphasized the water remains safe to drink.
“Fluoride has nothing to do with the treatment, taste or odor of the water. It’s purely for dental health,” Snead said.
Snead said the water dispersed throughout the city system likely still has fluoride in it, especially furthest from the treatment plant. But it will soon all be gone as the system cycles newly treated water throughout the city, leaving residents without the supplement for an indefinite time.
Original article online at: https://www.shreveportbossieradvocate.com/news/no-promises-shreveport-still-cant-say-when-itll-have-more-fluoride/article_f044e2b5-81a5-4f10-8ee3-81377d415a62.html