- Following similar decisions in other cities, Titusville may be next to consider whether to stop adding fluoride to its water supply.
- The Titusville Environmental Commission is investigating the costs and benefits of fluoridation, and could make a recommendation to the City Council.
- Titusville’s mayor supports revisiting the debate that the City Council had in 2021 on the issue.
Now that the Cocoa City Council has made its decision on adding fluoride to its municipal drinking water, Titusville would be next in line to take up the issue.
Cocoa’s council on Tuesday voted 4-1 to fix its water department equipment, so that fluoride can once again can be added to city water. That move followed votes in January by the Melbourne City Council and the Palm Bay City Council against adding fluoride. Melbourne’s council voted 6-1 to stop adding fluoride, while Palm Bay’s council was unanimous in its decision to not repair city equipment so that fluoride could once again be added to its water supply.
That leaves Titusville as Brevard County’s only city that supplies water to local residents not to make a formal decision on this issue.
But that could change. The Titusville Environmental Commission, an advisory board to the Titusville City Council, already has begun looking into the matter.
At its March 12 meeting, the commission directed city water department staff to make a presentation to commission members at their next meeting about how much fluoride is added to city water, what specific chemicals are used and what the cost is to the city.
Titusville Environmental Commission Chair Michael Myjak said the panel then will continue its discussion of the issue, and potentially will vote to make a recommendation to the City Council.
“We have to question what we have done for 50 years,” Myjak said, noting additional studies questioning fluoride’s use, coupled with community concerns.
Titusville mayor wants City Council action
Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors has been suggesting that the City Council consider directing the city’s water department to stop adding fluoride to its drinking water.
Connors noted that he had received correspondence from the Florida Department of Health, citing the opposition of its head, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, to added fluoride in water.
But the Titusville City Council thus far has not taken action. Some members cited discussions the council had on issue in 2021, with a number of public speakers, which led to no change in the city’s policy of adding fluoride to its water.
Connors — who was elected mayor in November and was not part of those discussions — contends that now is the time to revisit the issue. He would like the City Council to hold a special meeting dedicated to the issue of fluoride.
Connors said he also will look into using a polling company the city has a contract with to survey residents on the fluoride issue.
Original article online at: https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2025/03/19/titusville-may-be-next-to-decide-on-water-fluoridation/82525108007/