Submissions to be Called for Fluoride Tribunal

The first step towards a tribunal on the use of fluoride in New Plymouth District’s drinking water is about to begin, with submissions being called from the public from Monday next week (1 August).

Anyone who wants to speak to the tribunal is asked to register with the Council before 31 August.

During the Budget 2009/10 process the Council agreed to consult on the use of fluoride, and during the Budget 2010/11 process a hearings style tribunal was decided upon.

The issue was last considered in 2000 when, after a nine-hour public tribunal, NPDC decided to retain fluoride in New Plymouth City’s water supply.

“A tribunal allows both sides of the debate to present their information, and elected members to ask questions,” says Acting Chief Executive Frank Versteeg.

“There will be two primary presentations: One from a group in favour of fluoridation, and one from a group against. These will be followed by smaller verbal presentations from the wider community and community groups.

“After hearing the presentations and reading the submissions, the Council will adjourn to consider all the information, then reconvene at a later date to deliberate and make a decision.”

Anyone who wants to speak to the Council and/or to make a submission can do so after next Monday through our website at newplymouthnz.com/fluoride, or by phone, fax, email or writing in.

The deadline for both submissions and registrations is 5pm on 31 August.

In 1992 a poll undertaken in Inglewood, Urenui and Okato resulted in fluoride not being added to their supplies at that time. Urenui received fluoridated water in 1999 when the community was connected to the New Plymouth City supply.

The result of this tribunal could see fluoride added to or removed from all water supply systems in New Plymouth District, or the status quo remain.

Fluoride use in New Plymouth District

• The level of fluoride naturally occurring in New Plymouth’s water is <0.05g/m3.
• The targeted level of fluoride in New Plymouth’s water after treatment is 0.7g/m3, as recommended by the Ministry of Health.
• The maximum allowable level of fluoride under the Drinking Water Standard is 1.5g/m3. The maximum allowable value under the World Health Organisation guideline is 1.5g/m3. The Ministry of Health recommends fluoride to be dosed at between 0.7g/m3 and 1.0g/m3.
• The New Plymouth Water Treatment Plant (NPWTP) includes continuous online monitoring equipment which is used to stop fluoride going into the supply if the dose exceeds 1.5g/m3.
• NPWTP technicians take water samples weekly, which are analysed by an independent laboratory to verify the online analyser. The Taranaki District Health Board audits our records on a quarterly basis to verify compliance with the Drinking Water Standards.
• The chemical added for fluoridation is hydro-fluorosilicic acid. This is supplied by ORICA Chemnet NZ Ltd and is manufactured in New Zealand.
• In 2009/10 NPDC spent $18,000 on hydro-fluorsilicic acid.
• The fluoridated New Plymouth City supply services New Plymouth, Bell Block, Waitara, Onaero and Urenui. The water supplies in Inglewood, Okato and Oakura are not fluoridated.
• The New Plymouth City supply has been fluoridated since 1970. As more communities joined the supply, other towns began to receive fluoridated water as follows: Waitara in 1990, Onaero Domain and Urenui in 1999, and Onaero beach village in 2004.