Utah legislator considering a moratorium on fluoride in drinking water

Salt Lake County Health Department Employee Ron Lund takes water samples to be analyzed from homes in the effected area in Sandy on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Photo: Silas Walker / Deseret News)

The Sandy Water Crisis started when a fluoride pump malfunctioned, sending massive quantities of undiluted fluoride into residents’ drinking water.

Now, its catastrophic results have some people asking: Why is there fluoride in our water in the first place?

At least one legislator, Rep. Steve Handy, is taking that question seriously enough that he’s considering putting forward a bill that would put a moratorium on all fluoride in our water.

KSL Newsradio’s Dave & Dujanovic invited him on their show to discuss his proposed bill.

The growing anti-fluoride movement

Rep. Steve Handy speaks to KSL Newsradio’s Dave & Dujanovic about the fluoride in our water. The interview begins at 11:25. (Photo: KSL.com)

Fluoride is in our water because the people of Utah asked for it.

In November of 2000, residents in Salt Lake County, Davis County, and Logan City were invited to vote in a referendum on water fluoridation. They came out, had their voices heard, and our counties ensured that the water pouring out of their taps would have fluoride.

To some, however, that decision now seems to some like a colossal mistake. When that fluoride flooded Sandy’s water supply, it corroded the pipes, contaminating the water with lead and copper and leaving several people painfully ill.

Some have gone online to vent their frustrations:

nyscof@nyscof

Replying to @thatambergreen @sandycityutah

Why is the city protecting fluoridation instead of residents. Fluoride isn't a nutrient or essential for healthy teeth. Fluoride is regulated as a drug by the FDA Fluoridation chemicals used by Sandy are industrial waste & contain lead & arsenic. http://www.nsf.org/newsroom_pdf/Fluoride_Fact_Sheet_2019.pdf …

3

7:12 PM - Feb 16, 2019

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Others have called elected representatives like Steve Handy, who says that he’s considering his bill because many of his constituents have asked for it.

“The incident in Sandy is very distressing,” Handy says. “I have constituents who are very concerned about it.”

Those constituents, he says, have asked him to try to pass a moratorium on fluoride in water. He says there’s a good chance he’ll do just that...................