City council called on to look at cost of putting fluoride back into drinking water

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Dental and medical experts are calling on city council to find out the cost of reinstating fluoride back into our drinking water.

In 2011, the costs were estimated to be 6 to 10 million to buy and install the equipment, and 750,000 annually to purchase the product.

Last month, a city council committee heard that since fluoridation was stopped in 2011, the number of children needing antibiotic treatment at the Alberta Children’s Hospital has risen 700%.

The Canadian Agency For Drugs and Technologies in Health reports that for every dollar invested by the city, residents would keep 34 dollars in their pockets from avoided dental expenses.

Calgary residents voted in favor of fluoridation in two plebiscites.