City staff, council and residents debate fluoridation of Battle Ground water

City staff briefed the Battle Ground City Council on the history, operations and legal requirements tied to fluoridating the municipal water supply, and a series of residents urged the council to either maintain fluoridation for public‑health reasons or to remove it because of perceived health risks.

The presentation and a later public‑comment block spelled out the technical steps for adding fluoride to water and the process the city must follow if it chooses to discontinue it. Staff said the city injects sodium fluoride at its sources and tests each location daily to meet Department of Health rules, and that the state requires at least 90 days’ public notice before a vote to remove fluoridation.

The briefing matters because changing water treatment would require a formal, documented public outreach process and could disrupt routine operations and testing. Staff also gave a preliminary estimate of recurring costs for the city’s current practice and described statutory notification steps the city must follow if it chose to start the 90‑day removal process.

Mark (staff member) opened the work session with background on water fluoridation, noting that “fluoride is a mineral that is naturally occurring in many foods and water” and that Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the first U.S. city to intentionally add fluoride in 1945. He said Washington state has a mixed pattern of naturally occurring fluoride and that the Department of Health’s guidance sets an optimal…