New Zealand - Buy your own bottled water

Buy your own, objectors told

IAN ALLEN

People living in Marlborough who are opposed to having fluoride in the public water supply should drink bottled water from supermarkets so the rest of the community can benefit, Nelson Marlborough medical officer of health Ed Kiddle says.

The controversy around putting fluoride in the water supply was similar in many ways to the immunisation debate, Dr Kiddle said. All the evidence backed water fluoridation and immunising young children but people had the right to choose, he said.

It was about finding a balance between the greater public good and individual choice, he said.

"The evidence is very good for putting fluoride in the water supply and people should be able to choose if they want fluoride in their water," he said.

"Those who don't want fluoride should source their water elsewhere - like bottled water."