I was stunned by the abject disregard by the Oak Bluffs water district and their superintendent Kevin Johnson regarding fluoride in the public water supply. Mr. Johnson, who presently holds a drinking water certification in water treatment level T2 (in training), dismisses fluoridation solely in his opinion for health risks and for financial reasons. Mr. Johnson said: “He thinks the chemical is potentially toxic and that the money could be better spent elsewhere in the water district.”

This disconcerting comment comes from the man in charge of your public water supply. First and foremost the overwhelming proof of 70 years of fluoride use in the public water supply throughout the nation is its positive effect on oral health. The method of adding fluoride to the public water system avails its benefits to people of all incomes. The poor as well as the affluent receive benefit. The use of fluoride is strictly regulated with testing occurring daily. As well as daily testing, public water suppliers are mandated to test their skill by submitting monthly split sample tests to the Department of Public Health. These split sample tests are used as a barometer of how well the staff is performing daily testing. The DPH gives assistance to public water suppliers who do not comply with split sample testing.

All public water suppliers must also submit monthly reports that calculate the amount of fluoride added to the water system and the daily dosages. The Oak Bluffs water district at one time used the most accurate instrumentation, utilizing a photospectrometer. This light-sensitive testing equipment uses reagents to ensure reliable and accurate results. The water district received many awards between 1998 and 2008 for fluoride testing proficiency.

Secondly, the financial impact of spending $15,000 on fluoride application is minimal in the scheme of the overall budget and the positive effects of fluoride. If the water district was truly interested in saving money, they should look at cutting out the health insurance that they give their commissioners and withdraw them from the state retirement system that will burden taxpayers in the form of post-retirement benefits in the future.

Superintendent Johnson’s comments reflect an apathy that is prevalent in this complacent organization.

Deacon Perrotta
Oak Bluffs