Valley’s water to get first doses of fluoride

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

Clark County residents will begin receiving a dose of fluoride with every glass of tap water Wednesday, eight months before they will be given an opportunity to vote on whether they want the additive.

The first shipment of fluoride is expected to arrive at the Southern Nevada Water Authority's Alfred Merritt Smith water-treatment facility sometime today, according to the water district.

Nevada residents who believe the state government is forcing the tooth-decay fighter on them are not alone.

The battle over whether governments have a right to inject fluoride in drinking water has been fought in several states, most recently Florida, Washington, Indiana and California.

Gov. Kenny Guinn signed Nevada's fluoridation bill during the 1999 legislative session on the condition that voters are allowed a chance to vote on the controversial measure during November's general election.

Guinn's stipulation, however, has hardly comforted opponents of the measure.

Residents who believe too much fluoride can poison the body, cause brain damage and weaken bones and the immune system have inundated the county with phone messages over the weekend.

Geneva Marcus, with the newly formed group Grassroots Organization, said the state should postpone the fluoridation process until residents have an opportunity to vote. If the state does not want to wait until November, it should hold a special election, she said.

"We're trying to educate people about the effects of fluoride in the system," Marcus said. "This is not only about the fact that it is not supposed to be put in our bodies, but it's also the fact we don't have a choice."

Clark County spokesman Doug Bradford said the county cannot stop the measure from being implemented and must abide by the state law.

The Las Vegas Valley Water District board, which includes the seven Clark County commissioners, set aside $408,672 for a year's worth of fluoride last month. At the Jan. 18 meeting, board members expressed frustration that the state was making decisions about county residents' water.

But proponents of the measure said the state law will do wonders for the health of Clark County children's teeth.

Louise Helton, chairwoman for the Coalition for Citizens for Fluoride, said residents are not aware of the magnitude of the tooth decay problem in the valley. She said last month that the Head Start organization actually has a menu for school children with no teeth.

Fluoridated water systems, she said, have proven to reduce the percentage of children with tooth decay in other communities.