RIDGELAND, Miss. (WLBT) – Ridgeland has taken the first steps to officially remove fluoride from its water.
On Tuesday, the Board of Aldermen voted to begin step one of the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Fluoridation Discontinuation Process.
Mayor Gene McGee said despite the vote, the city is not advocating for the removal of fluoride and is just “going through the process.”
“It’s a unanimous vote to let the health department come and make a presentation to the board. That’s all that’s about,” he said.
McGee added that Ridgeland hasn’t been adding fluoride to the water for at least three years, largely due to the shortage during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want to hear what the health department has to say and came a decision whether we go forward with a public hearing,” he said. “All the vote was is to request the health department to come in and make a presentation.”
According to a copy of MSDH’s discontinuation policy, the presentation is the first step public bodies must take before discontinuing the use of fluoride.
The policy states, however, that cities cannot end the use of fluoride simply because of supply chain shortages.
The meeting, meanwhile, appears to be designed specifically to sway the board’s opinion about moving forward.
It will include a 20-minute presentation from MSDH officials, where “scientific facts and benefits of CWF will be presented.”
CWF is “community water fluoridation.”
Department officials also will bring up “funding opportunities that may be available to offset costs of operation,” if it is determined the city’s decision is for financial reasons.
It’s unclear how much the city spent each year to fluoridate the water prior to its discontinuation.
McGee says it would take between $160,000 and $200,000 to restore its current fluoridation equipment, which has been out of service for several years as a result of the shortage.
The mayor tells 3 On Your Side other cities also have struggled to get fluoride in recent years.
Madison quit adding fluoride to its water years ago, in part, due to the shortage.
“In 2020, during the COVID timeframe, fluoride [was not] available and when you could find it, it became extremely expensive,” said Pete Wilson, senior director of operations for the city of Madison.
“As it became available, we started looking at the research… [and] it’s just not necessary,” he said. “You can get what you need through other daily sources.”
Similarly, McGee said Public Works Director Alan Hart has been studying the issue for years before asking the board to initiate the process.
“This initial step does nothing more than open the door for learning and discussion,” the mayor said in a statement. “As always, our priority is the safety of our community and giving thoughtful consideration to those who may be affected by any future decision.”
At the time this article was published, a meeting date had not been set. McGee said it will be open to the public.
Original article online at: https://www.wlbt.com/2025/12/04/ridgeland-moving-forward-with-process-end-water-fluoridation/