The Boulder Water Resources Advisory Board (WRAB) has the responsibility of advising the City Manager and City Council on water issues. The issue of fluoridation of Boulder’s water supply will be on the ballot this November, in the form of Initiative 2B. The WRAB discussed fluoridation two years ago when concerned citizens brought the issue forward, but decided to make no recommendation for change in our fluoridation processes at that time.
It is important to note that it is the EPA, not the FDA that sets drinking water standards. Boulder’s water meets all EPA requirements for water quality with plenty of room to spare. Boulder’s water has been fluoridated for 37 years, after a measure to do so was passed by the voters. A recent National Research Council report suggests that fluoride in water supplies at levels such as those of Boulder’s does not present significant health risks.
Boulder uses the same chemicals to fluoridate that most other cities use. These chemicals may have trace elements in them, as do many chemical compounds. The trace elements in Boulder’s treated water are far below EPA guidelines and neither WRAB nor City staff has noted any evidence suggesting problems with our current treatment practices. It is also important to know that trace elements can occur in water supplies whether or not the water is fluoridated.
The only impact that passage of Initiative 2B would have on Boulder’s water would be to stop fluoridation. Even fluoride with no impurities would not be allowed by the initiative due to the fact that the initiative would require the FDA to approve its use. As the FDA is not in charge of drinking water standards, if 2B passes, it would take an act of Congress or the repeal of Initiative 2B to resume fluoridation of our drinking water.
Because there is considerable interest in this issue, WRAB has decided to conduct a public discussion on this topic. The discussion is scheduled for Oct. 16 at 7:00 p.m. We are still looking for an adequate space to hold the meeting. Representatives of Clean Water Advocates, Boulder dental health community and public health officials will be invited to make presentations.
After public input and deliberation, WRAB may decide to make a recommendation to the City Manager and City Council on this issue. If you are interested in this issue, I suggest you attend the meeting, which will be appropriately noticed in local papers.
The author is from Boulder and is Chair of the Water Resources Advisory Board.
The preceding was originally published as a letter to the editor of the Colorado Daily on October 5, 2006.
This message is from the Vote No on 2B Committee,
supported by the many very concerned health professionals serving the people of Boulder.
