Fifteen years ago, Pequannock Township considered adding fluoride to its water supply.

The township formed a committee of dental health professionals and citizens to study the controversial proposal.

The committee comprised people both for and against the proposal. Adding fluoride to drinking water can strengthen people’s teeth and prevent cavities, but others worried about possible health risks from the introduction of the chemical, as well as the proposal’s forced nature.

Township Health Officer Peter Correale was strongly in favor of it, saying that in towns with fluoridated water, there was less tooth decay.

He did acknowledge that some people opposed fluoridation.

“Historically, there has been a forced medication issue that is another instance of government control,” Correale said.

In 2000, the township posed a referendum question to its voters, asking them if they wanted their tap water fluoridated or not: 2,858 said no, and 2,607 said yes.

To this day, the township does not have fluoridated drinking water.

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