Fluoride to Remain in Yorktown Drinking Water
Fluoride has been added to Yorktown’s drinking water for about 65 years, and that practice will continue for the foreseeable future.
The Yorktown Town Board last week agreed to pay for the necessary capital improvements at the Joint Water Works facility to maintain fluoridation after many local dentists and health professionals provided expert advice during an informational meeting at Town Hall.
“It has a long track record of safety and we know it does prevent tooth decay,” said Dr. Sherlita Amler, WestchesterCounty health commissioner. “I would like you to consider the implications of this beyond the cost. It’s a great leveler. Even if you can’t afford to go to the dentist, everyone drinks water. Your oral health is key and essential to the rest of your health.”
Emphasizing tooth decay was a growing problem in children, Amler said fluoride was declared by the Centers for Disease Control as one of the most important public health achievements in the 20th Century.
Yorktown officials decided to get the pulse of the public after learning it would have to spend between $150,000 and $250,000 to upgrade failing equipment at the plant, which distributes water to Yorktown, Somers, Cortlandt and Montrose. Cortlandt and Montrose don’t have fluoridated water.
“It’s not about the money. It’s about whether the residents of Yorktown want fluoride in the water,” said Councilman Dave Paganelli.
Several dentists, such as Dr. Richard Gallo, stressed the decision for the board should have been a no-brainer.
“I think if the distribution system had not become antiquated we wouldn’t be here,” said Gallo, a 30-year dentist and resident of Yorktown. “The least expensive way to get fluoride is through the water supply.”
“Fluoride is one thing we can do to prevent decay,” said Dr. Jennifer Blair of Valley Pediatric Dentistry.
Overall, 56 dentists and pediatricians signed a letter to the town board supporting the continuation of fluoridation.
Michael Mamone, a resident of Croton, presented the lone opposition to fluoridation, claiming too much fluoride could be harmful.
“There’s just something wrong about putting it in the drinking water so everyone is forced to drink it,” he said. “The less we put into our tap water the better.”
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
