USA - City receives award for water fluoridation program

City receives award for water fluoridation program

Friday, May 6, 2016
By TOM HENRY

On behalf of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) notified the City of Blytheville that it was being recognized for its efforts in meeting the requirement for the 2014 Water Fluoridation Quality Award. Fluoridation is one of a number of water treatment activities the department does. This is particularly timely and relevant in the wake of the Flint, Michigan water problems and the increase in concern of water systems around the county.
The letter from the ADH states, "This award recognizes systems that adjust the fluoride concentration in drinking water and achieve a monthly average fluoride level that is in the optimum range for twelve consecutive months in a year, as documented in the Water Fluoridation Reporting System."
Community water fluoridation has been recognized by the CDC as one of the top ten public health achievements of the 20th century. According to the ADH, Arkansas has 104 public water systems that artificially adjust fluoride levels. Blytheville Waterworks is one of only forty-six being recognized with a certificate.
The ADH letter also mentions that Arkansas currently has 84.4 percent of its public water systems providing fluoridated drinking water, which puts Arkansas ahead of the national average.
"The Arkansas Department of Health fully endorses and supports the continued efforts of water fluoridation as a safe, effective, and inexpensive method of preventing tooth decay by as much as 28%. In fact, for every $1 invested in water fluoridation there is a $38 dollar savings in dental treatment costs," Lindy Bollen, Jr. DDS of the ADH said.
Greg Hamlett, assistant supervisor said, "We've began pumping fluoride here in 1964. They started out in a bag system in '64 and it run off a hopper fed system. As time went on the NPDS standards changed so we went to the fluoridic. We use 23 percent. It was in the drums and it was more economical...it's really more hazardous in a bag form."
The city's choice of artificially adjusting fluoride levels in its water is not a money making proposition, however.
"We chose to do it because it's low cost and it's beneficial to children in keeping their teeth. It doesn't benefit us any, but it's for the children. Toothpaste, you know, has a small dosage," Hamlett added......


It's for children? Doesn't benefit adults? Toothpaste has a SMALL fluoride dosage?

For a start children who have rotten teeth don't drink water. We are told by those promoting fluoridation  it benefits everybody. Who's telling porkies?  
And why do they make these awards for doing what is required - does it mean there are thousands of water supplies that don't meet these standards?