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Posted on Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 2:30 p.m.

Dexter to begin adding more fluoride to water system

By Lisa Allmendinger

The Village of Dexter will begin adding a small amount of fluoride into its water system beginning the week of May 2.

Currently, Dexter’s water contains approximately 0.4 parts per million (ppm), and an additional 0.3 ppm will be added to reach the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines of 0.7 ppm, according to information provided by the village.

The Dexter Village Council approved adding the additional fluoride to the village water system in May 2009. At the time, it was estimated to cost between $75,000 and $100,000 to bring fluoride levels to the recommended levels.

The yearly chemical costs were estimated to be about $6,000 based on 1.2 million gallons of water use per day. Those costs are expected to increase to about $9,100 with the addition of the village’s fifth well.

The change was prompted by the complaints of a local dentist, who was unhappy about the low levels of fluoride in the water.

Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Manchester, Saline, Jackson, Brighton and Howell are among the communities that add fluoride to the water supply according to a report from the village’s consultant Orchard, Hiltz and McCliment.

Brent Kolb, a local dentist, said in a post on AnnArbor.com’s community wall that residents who do not use a reverse osmosis filtration system will no longer need to take fluoride supplements.

Reverse osmosis systems filter out the fluoride, and children in households with such systems who are currently taking fluoride supplements should continue doing so.

Village officials recommend consulting with a family dentist if you have fluoride supplementation questions.

For more Dexter stories, visit our Dexter page.

Comments

I.V. Higelmire

Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 5:02 p.m.

Fluoride is toxic to dogs, as well as most domestic animals. If you don't filter it out of their drinking water give them bottled.

Starr Connelly

Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 6:31 p.m.

Less than a year ago I found out I was in 3rd stage kidney disease and found out about the health effects of fluoride. I quit drinking fluoridated water and quit all green and black teas (high in fluoride) and in four months my kidney function had improved by 90%. Because of fluoride, I was headed straight for kidney dialysis. I've been a medical social worker for 20 years and have watched hundreds of people take the plunge into kidney dialysis and not ONE has ever reported to me when I'm documenting their dietary restrictions, that they have been told by their doctor or other health care provider to stay away from fluoride. Not ONE. My doctor didn't tell me, either. In fact, my doctor told me she had no suggestions to improve my kidney function - until the kidneys declined to the point of needing dialysis!! Why are kidney patients not being told to eliminate fluoride? The National Kidney Foundation stated that people with reduced kidney function should avoid fluoride. In 2006 the National Research Council said that people with lowered kidney function should avoid fluoride. Doctors don't tell their kidney patients this information. People with kidney disease deserve to have water that isn't toxic to them, water that won't throw them into kidney dialysis. My kidney-fluoride story is at: <a href="http://fluoridedetective.com/kidneys/" rel='nofollow'>http://fluoridedetective.com/kidneys/</a>

mhirzel

Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 12:14 p.m.

&quot;Why not just supply the fluoride pills to the Village residents, and give them the choice to take it or not?&quot; Because then, the aluminum industry would have to start paying to dump their toxic waste by-products, instead of being paid by our Fearless Public Health stooges, to dump it in your water, instead. Dexter enters the Age of Gullible Idiocy........

2020

Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 9:50 p.m.

Great, an extra 100,000.00 dollars! Just what my lawn needs, more fluoride. Why not just supply the fluoride pills to the Village residents, and give them the choice to take it or not?

Tom Joad

Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 9:28 p.m.

I believe it was General Jack Ripper who quipped: &quot;Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face?&quot;

roslyn26

Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 9:23 p.m.

Check out the documentary &quot;The Fluoride Deception.&quot; It can be found on YouTube and Top Documentary Films.com.

Truffledog

Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 7:21 p.m.

Never dreamed I'd come around to doubting fluoridation, but the cumulative evidence does not support it anymore. Check out Fluoride Action Network--not just for fruitcakes anymore. Seriously, I brush with fluoride toothpaste four times a day. I do not need it in my water. I can do a fluoride rinse or get my dentist to apply treatments. Children are showing up with too much fluoride spotting their teeth. Once upon a time this helped. Since then dental care improved and it just does not matter. That is besides evidence from developing nations that compare regions with and without treated water.