Residents press council to study water fluoridation after public comments

During public comment at Tuesday’s Loveland City Council meeting, multiple residents asked the city to investigate ending the fluoridation of the public water supply and to report back on health and regulatory implications.

Griffin Cole, who identified himself as a dentist, urged the city to stop fluoridation and to spend allocated funds on education and dental-screening programs. Cole said the CDC lacked evidence that fluoride ingestion during a child’s first six months prevents cavities and cited the recent court challenges and studies alleging neurodevelopmental effects: "We can no longer trade the health of our babies for the unlikely possibility of saving 1 cavity," he said.

Linda Rosa, a public-commenter on Zoom who identified herself as a Ward 2 resident, countered that fluoridated water acts both systemically and topically and noted the U.S. recommended fluoridation level of 0.7 parts per million; she urged councilors to consult their dentists.

After the public comments, Councilor Foley and others asked the city manager to direct staff to prepare a memo for council addressing citizens’ questions and the city’s current fluoridation practices. Foley asked the city manager to "bring back to council some information" and the mayor noted staff were not prepared to answer on the spot but that follow-up by staff and the city manager was appropriate.

Action: Council did not take a policy vote. Council asked the city manager to have staff research and prepare a memo responding to the public’s concerns and to provide clarifying information to council at a future meeting.