Council Gives Approval for Water Fluoridation
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LOS ANGELES — The City Council on Tuesday approved the last major step toward fluoridating the city’s drinking water, beginning in the next two months.
Council members including Laura Chick had delayed a vote on the $1.3-million contract to buy fluoride until the city Department of Water and Power completed a report on the health issues involving the chemical.
The DWP report, delivered to council members last week, concluded that fluoride is safe and is used in most major cities to help prevent tooth decay. City officials also noted that state law mandates public drinking water be fluoridated.
“I am comfortable that the advantages and benefits outweigh the concerns,” Chick said.
A vote on the contract had been delayed twice after a group of activists from the San Fernando Valley protested the fluoridation two weeks ago.
DWP officials plan to send a notice to residents in the next month about the fluoridation program, which is scheduled to begin in March.
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