|
Public Health Solutions
District Health Department
995 East Hwy 33, Ste 1
Crete, NE 68333-2562
888.310.0565
Webmail »
|
The "Fluoridation Bill" - LB245
Purpose of the LB245: to encourage communities without the recommended amount of natural fluoride in their water to add fluoride until it reaches that level.
What the bill says: Certain communities must install fluoridation equipment in the public water system so that there it is delivering the recommended 0.7 mg of fluoride per 1 Liter of water.
Which PHS communities are affected: Crete, Friend, Geneva, Hebron, and Wilber (population 1,000 or more that don't already fluoridate, and which have natural fluoride levels below the recommended amount). The Little Blue NRD Rural Water District #1 and the Beatrice State Developmental Center currently fluoridate their water or purchase fluoridated water.
Can communities "opt out": Yes. Communities wishing to opt out of the mandate may do so by proposing and adopting an ordinance that prohibits fluoridation.
What fluoride is for : Small doses of fluoride help prevent cavities from developing. The CDC estimates that the cavity-prevention effect of fluoridated water reduces the cost of community dental programs by as much as 50%.
Cost to communities: Fluoridation costs communities anywhere from $1.00 - $3.00 per resident per year depending on the community size, not including up front costs of purchasing and installing the system(s). Up front costs are typically from $3,500 to $5,000 per system wellhead.
More about fluoride and fluoridation:
- At least some fluoride is found in all natural water sources, including oceans.
- People also get fluoride from brushing with most toothpastes, and from dental visits that include a fluoride treatment.
- Private well water contains fluoride, but the amount may vary from well to well. Residents on private wells should have their water tested for fluoride levels to ensure that it is 'in the middle' - enough to prevent tooth decay, but not so much as to cause health problems.
- Most home water filtration systems do not remove fluoride.
- Most bottled water does not contain any fluoride.
If you have questions about this legislation please contact PHSDHD. If you are interested in advocating for fluoridation in your community, PHSDHD can provide a limited number of glossy Fact Sheets and posters for distribution.
*** 1-888-310-0565 ***
|
