Committee adopts ordinance to stop adding fluoride and to require ongoing monitoring of naturally occurring levels

The Public Works and Utilities Committee on Monday approved a bill amending city code to end the requirement to add fluoride to the municipal water system and to require continued monitoring and annual reporting of naturally occurring fluoride concentrations.

Director Roche of the water division told the committee that existing, treated source waters already contain measurable fluoride: "Canyon Road water treatment plant averages around 0.3 parts per million, and the Buckman direct diversion water averages about 0.6 parts per million. Samples taken in the distribution system tend to average about 0.5 parts per million." Roche said the current city code targets 1 part per million (a range of 0.8–1.2) but noted federal guidance from the Centers for Disease Control recommends 0.7 parts per million.

Staff recommended ending the active addition of fluoride because the naturally occurring background concentrations are fairly close to the CDC recommendation and because precisely dosing small additional quantities would require equipment and handling protocols that are relatively expensive and would use corrosive powdered chemicals, presenting operational hazards. Roche told the committee the water division will incorporate fluoride monitoring into its annual water report so the public will have ongoing summary data.

Committee members said the ordinance clarifies the city’s duty to monitor and report; several members noted that the decision to stop adding fluoride does not preclude revisiting the practice later if monitoring or federal recommendations change. The committee approved the bill by roll call (Councilor Romero Wirth: Yes; Councilor Lee Garcia: Yes; Councilor Alma Castro: Yes; Chair Chavez: Yes).