Lakeland City Commission votes to stop adding supplemental fluoride to municipal water

Lakeland, Fla. — The Lakeland City Commission voted March 3 to stop adding the supplemental fluoride that Lakeland Water Utilities has been dosing into the municipal water supply, following a public hearing that drew residents, nurses and health professionals on both sides of the debate.

Mayor William Muts opened the hearing and turned the floor to residents and health professionals who spoke in favor of and against ceasing the supplement. After public comments and a lengthy commission discussion, Commissioner Musick moved to end the city's supplemental fluoride program; the motion passed by voice vote and the chair declared the motion unanimously approved.

Why it matters: Community water fluoridation is a long-standing public-health intervention intended to reduce cavities across populations. Supporters at the hearing said the recommended level (0.7 parts per million) reduces tooth decay and helps low-income families who lack regular dental access. Opponents argued the decision should be an individual household choice and raised concerns about potential health risks and cumulative exposure.

Public testimony and technical details: Speakers included community members and medical professionals. Justin Harvey urged choice, saying, "We give people the choice," and argued for ending mandatory municipal supplementation. Health-care presenters countered with national guidance and research supporting fluoridation. At the outset of the formal motion discussion, Joe Costline, assistant director of Water Utilities, summarized the city's dosing: "Currently we have a natural about average is about 0.25 parts per million" of naturally occurring fluoride and "our addition that we add in right now is about 0.45," for a total near the U.S. Public Health Service recommendation of 0.7 ppm.

Operational timing and inventory: When commissioners asked whether the supplement could be halted immediately, David Mahan of Water Utilities said plainly the system could be stopped "today," adding that the city would need to determine how to handle existing inventory for the fluoride product.

Commissioners' reasoning: Commissioners described weighing established dental benefits against concerns about consent and possible long-term accumulation. Commissioner Musick, who moved to cease the supplement, said he was responding to constituent concerns: "When I made the motion and my vote will be to remove it ... it's because I have constituents that have pleaded for me to remove it." Other commissioners noted the difficulty of the question, the mixed public input and the need to respect differing views.

Outcome and next steps: The voice vote carried and the chair announced the motion had "unanimously passes." Staff were directed to stop supplemental dosing, address operational steps for turning off feed pumps and report back on inventory disposition and any other implementation details. The commission did not adopt new policy language at the meeting beyond the immediate operational stop.

The public hearing began with resident testimony at the March 3 meeting and the motion to cease supplemental fluoridation was moved and approved later in the session. The commission's action leaves naturally occurring fluoride in the city's water but ends the city's practice of adding supplemental fluoride until any further decision is made.