COCOA, Fla. – There’s negative reaction from some people to a city council vote last week to re-add fluoride to Brevard County’s largest water supplier.
The Cocoa City Council approved the measure for its 300,000 customers by a 4-1 vote during its March 18 meeting.
Friday, a small group organized by a critical care nurse held a protest at city hall. Jamie Lyons said she wanted to raise awareness that fluoride is toxic.
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“The fluoride they use in our community waters are actually byproducts of fertilizer companies that my sign says,” she said. “It’s a byproduct of phosphate fertilizers.”
Cocoa’s communications director said in an interview with News 6 reporter James Sparvero that fluoride naturally occurs in water, so there are still levels of fluoride in Cocoa’s water right now.
The city said it would be months before adding fluoride to the water supply can resume because broken equipment has to be replaced, costing around $700,000.
At the March 18 council meeting, Mayor Mike Blake called Cocoa’s water “quality water” and said he’s been drinking it all his life, and he’s fine.
“I support having fluoride in our water, and I believe in the fluoride in our water,” Blake said.