ALBUQUERQUE BERNALILLO COUNTY
WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY
BILL NO. __R-16-9___
RESOLUTION
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Requesting That the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners Submit to the County Voters a General Election Ballot Question Concerning Adding Supplemental Fluoride to the Drinking Water
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WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Panel on Community Water Fluoridation has issued a final recommendation which concludes that the optimal concentration of fluoride in drinking water is 0.7 milligrams/liter (mg/L). According to the report, drinking water with fluoride in concentrations of 0.7mg/L provides the best balance of protection from dental caries while limiting the risk of dental fluorosis. <http://www.publichealthreports.org/documents/PHS_2015_Fluoride_Guidelines.pdf>
WHEREAS, the drinking water served by the Water Authority naturally contains fluoride from ground water sources in an average concentration of 0.5 mg/L.
WHEREAS, meeting the 0.7 mg/L recommended fluoride standard would require that the Water Authority add supplemental fluoride to the drinking water.
WHEREAS, the proposal that the Water Authority add supplemental fluoride to the drinking water has generated substantial public interest and controversy.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE WATER AUTHORITY:
Section 1. The Board finds that whether or not the majority of the voters favor or oppose the addition of supplemental fluoride to Water Authority drinking water to meet the 0.7 mg/L public health recommendation is an unsettled question and of general public interest in Bernalillo County.
Section 2. Because of this finding, the Board respectfully requests that the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners submit to County voters in the November 2016 general election a ballot question to determine if voters favor or oppose the addition of supplemental fluoride to the drinking water distributed by the Water Authority.