Fluoridation of Raglan’s water supply has got a little closer with Waikato District Council announcing that it let a tender in June for water treatment fluoridation of Te Kauwhata’s water supply. Te Kauwhata, Ngaruawahia and Huntly now have fluoridated water. This leaves water supplies in Hopuhopu, Raglan, Pokeno, Tuakau and Port Waikato as not being fluoridated. Budget provision has been made by the Waikato Council for fluoridation of Hopuhopu’s water.
Back in 2011,the last time this was discussed by the Waikato Council, Raglan ward councillor Clint Baddeley said he was disappointed fluoride opponents were not invited to address councillors, adding the outcome could have implications for Raglan households. He added, “Raglan residents still haven’t forgiven council for putting chlorine in the water.”
Spartan Construction carried out the Te Kauwhata work for $118,476 and a total project cost of $142,287. The project had a budget deficit of $21,475 which was covered with a Health Departments subsidy.
Maybe with having to pay the fine for enabling sewage to flow into the harbour, there may be less money in the budget, to add another contaminant to Raglan spring water, which of course eventually flows on out to sea to affect the sea life. We could cherish the rare fact that Raglan water is sourced from Riki Spring.
how can fluoride contaminate sea water when it is a mineral and is added to domestic water at .7PPM, then it goes into the sea and is futher diluted to nothing, bearing in mind seawater has its own fluoride content at appox .3PPM so this is just scaremongering
at some point,the councils ego of putting this toxin in water should be stopped,next step is they are selling the water to private enterprise and there be meters at the gate,and more meds in the water,good luck,while everyone rolls over for the 1 filling less
The Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board issued a 1997 report that included fluoride and provided a recommended daily intake for fluoride. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains, “These guidelines describe the dietary reference intakes for specific nutrients known to be beneficial to health including fluoride.”
2. Through the years, a number of highly respected health officials have identified fluoride as a nutrient. In the Surgeon General’s Report on Nutrition and Health (1988, pp. 368-369), former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop wrote, “Although fluoride is present in foods, the most efficient source of this nutrient for the general public is community drinking water … to which fluoride is added to reach the optimal level.”
3. The National Institutes of Health classifies fluoride among the “minerals and essential trace elements.”
4. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Data Laboratory includes fluoride in its database of nutrients.
The WDC policy is that it supports community fluoridation, but it is only introduced with the agreement of the community board in the supply area. So for community fluoride to be added to Raglan’s water supply – the RCB would need to support it.
As far as I am aware – certainly not up to early last year, it has not been considered by WDC for Raglan.
Thanks Richard. The way I was reading Clint’s statement was that he thought WDC should have considered both sides of the debate. He wasn’t necessarily unhappy with the Te Kauwhata decision, just concerned about the way it was made by the council. As Te Kauwhata only has a community committee, the process may have been different for them. I do hope you are right, that when this comes up for Raglan that the community board does discuss it.
I understand that some other countries add the fluoride to salt – like we add iodine and fluoride is added milk. Seems like a simple solution – gives people a choice of purchase; companies like Fonterra to create a new milk drink like Karicare, saves the council money; and leaves water out of the equation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
“Water fluoridation prevents tooth decay mainly by providing teeth with frequent contact with low levels of fluoride throughout each day and throughout life. Even today, with other available sources of fluoride, studies show that water fluoridation reduces tooth decay by about 25 percent over a person’s lifetime. … This method of fluoride delivery benefits all people ― regardless of age, income, education, or socioeconomic status.”