How safe is the fluoridated water in Davis County?
LAYTON, Utah (ABC4 News) – A few Davis County residents have inquired about the safety of their water supply after a fluoride contamination crisis in nearby Salt Lake County.
Davis and Salt Lake are the only counties in Utah that add fluoride to their water supply.
It caused a scare in Sandy last month when citizens complained of sickness due to the elevated levels of fluoride in the city’s water.
ABC4 News went to Layton, the largest city in Davis County, to see what measures are being taken to ensure only the approved amount fluoride makes it to residents.
Brittany Johnson toured one of the city’s five well houses.
Wes Adams, Water Supervisor for Layton City, says each well house is checked three times a day and monitored around the clock.
“Fluoride is an acid,” said Adams.
He says that’s why it’s very important that the facility is not only monitored manually but electronically as well.
“We drink the water as well. They need to know it’s safe,” said Steve Garside, Public Information Officer for Layton City. “At minimum, the water is tested once a week.”
Layton’s water is tested in what’s called a split sample.
“We have the ability here to do an immediate test to make sure we’re in compliance. We send a second part of that same test down to the county health department and they run those tests as well. If there’s a difference there that’s concerning they will notify us,” explained Garside.
In November 2000, voters countywide approved adding one part per million of fluoride to the drinking water systems to prevent tooth decay in children.
The fluoride was then added to Layton’s water supply in 2003.
Garside says since added, the city hasn’t had any problems with improper levels.
With the extra precautions, monitoring systems, and intrusion alarms, Garside hopes Layton won’t have any contamination problems like the one in Sandy.
“We’re confident it’s not going to happen here,” he said.
Layton City posts its Annual Water Quality Report on its website.
