Fluoride to be Removed from New Plymouth Water Supply
Thursday 13 October 2011, 4:11PM
By New Plymouth District Council
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Today (Thursday) New Plymouth District Council decided to stop fluoridating the water supply for the New Plymouth area.
The supply services communities from Omata in the west to Urenui in the east, and includes New Plymouth, Bell Block, Waitara, Motunui and parts of Tikorangi. The Inglewood, Oakura and Okato water supplies are already non-fluoridated.
The decision comes after a two-day tribunal style hearing at the end of September, when Councillors considered 417 written submissions and heard from 45 submitters.
“The budget that is put aside for buying hydro-fluorosilicic acid (HFA) will instead go towards an education campaign on dental hygiene, to be delivered in cooperation with relevant community agencies,” says Mayor Harry Duynhoven.
“Council staff will investigate what form that education campaign will take and report on it to the Council for consideration.”
No new HFA stock will be added to the New Plymouth water supply from today. The existing limited supply will be depleted through the reticulation, and is expected to run out by the end of November (depending on water demand).
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