Should Olathe continue to add fluoride to its water? Discussions begin over possible risks

The City of Olathe has had fluoride in its drinking water since a citizen vote in 1959, though that process may be reconsidered by the Olathe City Council hinging on certain studies and court decisions.

In late-2024, a California District Court ruled the Environmental Protection Agency’s accepted level of fluoride poses “an unreasonable risk” of reduced IQ in children — about eight IQ points based on a study. The decision was part of a lawsuit by Food & Water Watch, a non-governmental agency tracking the government’s use of chemicals in food and water.