City of Abilene halts water fluoridation
The city of Abilene has temporarily suspended the fluoridation of the public water supply, according to a city media release Monday.
Not putting fluoride in the water is a precautionary step stemming from a recent California federal court ruling that might result in changes to the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommendations for fluoride levels in drinking water.
“This temporary suspension is being implemented out of an abundance of caution to safeguard public health,” the media release stated.
Mayor Weldon Hurt and City Manager Robert Hanna discussed the changes over the weekend and agreed a temporary suspension would do no harm while giving the City Council a chance to provide further direction in light of recent court rulings on fluoride.
The Abilene City Council will discuss water fluoridation in the public water supply at 8:30 a.m. Thursday during a regular meeting in council chambers on the second floor of Abilene City Hall, 555 Walnut Street.
The city follows federal standards and the American Dental Association’s recommendation to maintain fluoride levels at 0.7 parts per million to improve public dental health, according to the media release.
With potential changes to EPA regulations — such as possibly adjusting to fluoride levels or introducing warning labels, the city paused fluoridation to comply with any new health and safety guidelines that might be issued.
The city of Abilene remains committed to providing safe, high-quality drinking water and will closely monitor any updates to federal regulations, according to the media release.
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