USA - Customers ringing South Blount’s phones over fluoridation call
Customers ringing South Blount’s phones over fluoridation call
By Joel Davis
of The Daily Times Staff
South Blount County Utility District has been receiving some criticism for its recent decision to begin fluoridating the water treated at its plant.
The utility’s board of directors, at the request of Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham, voted Jan. 2 to begin fluoridation of the district’s water system as soon as possible.
“(District Manager Henry Durant has) been getting a lot of phone calls from people that are upset,” said utility spokeswoman Stacie Keller. “We don’t usually get phone calls (about issues). When I talked with the secretary (Tuesday), they had gotten 10 to 20 calls from customers who were upset and said, ‘You should have done a survey and asked our input.’
“Certainly with some people, it seems to be a feeling that their health is diminished by the presence of fluoride.”
The addition of fluoride to the water supply, a procedure to reduce dental cavities that is in widespread use around the country, has been the subject of local controversy since the SBCUD board voted not to fluoridate the water when the district opened its new plant in July 2004.
Keller issued the following statement on behalf of SBCUD:
“As we have stated in the past, the benefits of fluoridation in public water is a very inconclusive issue, with valid research and arguments to support both sides. SBCUD wants to remain focused on moving forward and does not want to allow the issue of fluoridation to diminish our district’s progress nor hinder us from achieving our future goals.
“Our utility is working hard to provide superior customer service and the best water quality with the most advanced water treatment technology available today. Over the next several years we will be implementing a strategic plan that will prepare for our growing community’s needs. This will include much-needed infrastructure improvement projects that will ensure a reliable water supply to our customers for years to come as well as provide access to healthy public water for all Blount County residents, a right we believe every resident should have. Engaging the time and efforts of our staff to ‘battle’ the fluoride issue once again would inhibit us from doing our job to the best of our ability.”
By Joel Davis
of The Daily Times Staff
South Blount County Utility District has been receiving some criticism for its recent decision to begin fluoridating the water treated at its plant.
The utility’s board of directors, at the request of Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham, voted Jan. 2 to begin fluoridation of the district’s water system as soon as possible.
“(District Manager Henry Durant has) been getting a lot of phone calls from people that are upset,” said utility spokeswoman Stacie Keller. “We don’t usually get phone calls (about issues). When I talked with the secretary (Tuesday), they had gotten 10 to 20 calls from customers who were upset and said, ‘You should have done a survey and asked our input.’
“Certainly with some people, it seems to be a feeling that their health is diminished by the presence of fluoride.”
The addition of fluoride to the water supply, a procedure to reduce dental cavities that is in widespread use around the country, has been the subject of local controversy since the SBCUD board voted not to fluoridate the water when the district opened its new plant in July 2004.
Keller issued the following statement on behalf of SBCUD:
“As we have stated in the past, the benefits of fluoridation in public water is a very inconclusive issue, with valid research and arguments to support both sides. SBCUD wants to remain focused on moving forward and does not want to allow the issue of fluoridation to diminish our district’s progress nor hinder us from achieving our future goals.
“Our utility is working hard to provide superior customer service and the best water quality with the most advanced water treatment technology available today. Over the next several years we will be implementing a strategic plan that will prepare for our growing community’s needs. This will include much-needed infrastructure improvement projects that will ensure a reliable water supply to our customers for years to come as well as provide access to healthy public water for all Blount County residents, a right we believe every resident should have. Engaging the time and efforts of our staff to ‘battle’ the fluoride issue once again would inhibit us from doing our job to the best of our ability.”
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