Fluoride Returns to DeForest’s Water Supply Amid Controversy
In a significant move for DeForest, the village trustees have voted to reintroduce fluoride into the local water supply, aligning with recommendations from various dental and public health organizations. The decision, finalized with a 4-2 vote, marks a reversal following a previous decision to halt fluoridation.
The vote comes on the heels of an April election that resulted in the removal of Taysheedra Allen, a trustee who had opposed fluoride addition. This election outcome shifted the board’s stance towards pro-fluoride, reflecting changing community sentiments.
According to an engineering assessment by Vierbicher, the cost to reintegrate fluoride into DeForest’s water system is estimated at $327,000. This figure encompasses necessary upgrades to the water infrastructure as suggested by state officials. A grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services may help offset some of these expenses.
Implementation will be gradual, with the first of the village’s four wells expected to deliver fluoridated water within four to six months. Full fluoridation across all wells could take up to 14 months.
Fluoridation is a common practice in many U.S. communities to promote dental health, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lauding it as a major public health triumph. Despite this, misinformation about potential health risks from fluoridated water continues to circulate.
Previously, in February last year, the trustees narrowly voted to cease adding fluoride. The village board has since undergone several changes, notably with the recall of an anti-fluoride trustee last September and the resignation of another due to personal reasons.
Even with the departure of pro-fluoride board president Jane Cahill Wolfgram for health reasons, supporters of fluoridation maintained sufficient backing to pass the measure. A prior attempt in March failed after a surprising change of vote by Trustee Jan Steffenhagen-Hahn, who had initially supported fluoride.
Tuesday’s meeting highlighted the divisive nature of the fluoride debate. Steffenhagen-Hahn remarked, “I haven’t ever known it to be this awful, and I’ve been here most of my 60 years.” She emphasized the need for community reconciliation, stating, “I just hope that we can finally all remember that we are neighbors.”
DeForest, a village of approximately 13,000 residents located near Madison, has shown strong pro-fluoride sentiment through recent elections. Marc Storch, a local resident, noted the community’s clear stance, citing the recall and recent electoral outcomes as de facto referendums on the issue.
In the latest elections, pro-fluoride candidates Colleen Little, Alicia Williams, and Melanie Bartholf secured significant votes, each receiving between 27 and 34 percent. Allen, the sole anti-fluoride candidate, garnered less than 13 percent.
With the board currently comprising six trustees, a vacancy remains following Wolfgram’s departure, leaving a position yet to be filled.
