COCOA, Fla. – Council members Tuesday night approved restoring a controversial chemical to drinking water for the city and other communities.
First, public works will have to replace broken equipment.
The measure is the opposite of what some other Brevard County cities have done this year.
Palm Bay and Melbourne each said no to fluoride.
And now, there’s even legislation moving through the State Capitol that could ban fluoride.
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Supporters think the chemical protects teeth, while critics, including the state’s surgeon general, think it’s harmful.
Dr. Joseph Ladapo has called local governments fluoridating water a “public health malpractice.”
On the other hand, Cocoa’s mayor said he’s been drinking the city’s water all of his life and has remained healthy.
“I support having fluoride in our water, and I believe in the fluoride in our water,” Mayor Mike Blake said during the council meeting.
More contrasting opinions were heard during the meeting’s public comment forum. One man who said he was a doctor called fluoride a toxin, while another doctor said fluoride has no negative health impacts.
“They heard both sides of the story, and they voted to keep it in,” communications director Samantha Senger said about the council’s decision.
Senger said it will take months to replace the equipment and begin re-adding fluoride to water.
”Fluoride does naturally occur in water,” she said. “So you’re still going to see some fluoride in our water.”
Senger said customers can get a filter system or drink bottled water if they want to avoid any amount of fluoride. Replacing the equipment and re-adding fluoride will cost the city about $700,000.