RIDGELAND, Miss. (WLBT) – The city of Ridgeland is likely adding fluoride back to its water supply.
On Tuesday, the Board of Aldermen voted down a motion to discontinue the use of fluoride in its drinking water, following a presentation from the Mississippi State Department of Health.
The measure fell on a 3-4 vote, with Aldermen D.I. Smith, Chuck Gautier, and Wes Hamlin voting in favor of the discontinuation.
Gautier, who seconded the motion, said he’s still concerned about the effects ingesting fluoride can have on children and pregnant mothers.
“I don’t argue the efficacy of fluoride for teeth, but ingesting it instead of it topically being used in toothpaste, mouthwash, and [dental] treatments, I would prefer that,” he said.
Gautier said Public Works Director Alan Hart is now getting bids on the equipment needed to restore fluoride in the water treatment process, which was discontinued in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the problems we were having after COVID, the supply was just not there,” he said. “From what I understood, there were a lot of supply chain issues that, for the most part, have gone away.”
Previous WLBT reports show the city’s fluoridation equipment has been offline for more than two years.
Gautier says it will take between $150,000 to $300,000 to repair or replace the equipment. After that, there will be additional costs for equipment maintenance and fluoride purchases.
He doesn’t expect water rates to go up to cover the costs.
Original article online at: https://www.wlbt.com/2026/08/05/ridgeland-adding-fluoride-back-water-following-board-vote/