BOH Agenda 032520 - Laserfiche WebLink

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According to information provided by OWASA (M. Tiger, personal communication, February 5, 2020), the financial burden of community water fluoridation to OWASA ratepayers is minimal. In 2019, OWASA spent $16,140 on the fluoride that was added to drinking water. With 2.4 billion gallons treated at the Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant in 2019, the unit cost equates to approximately $1.00 per 1.4 million gallons. Beyond chemical costs, the cost of maintaining the system is incorporated into overall plant operations. The fluoride feed system is flow-paced and does not require manual adjustment. The system is monitored as part of OWASA's larger facility monitoring. Following a 2017 investment by OWASA to increase the reliability of the system, the fluoride feed system requires minimal upkeep and preventative maintenance. 4. Can burdens be minimized? Are there alternative approaches? According to OWASA (M. Tiger, personal communication, February 5, 2020), given that the cost of community fluoridation lies primarily in the cost of fluoride, there is little opportunity to minimize costs. The cost of purchasing community fluoridation represented a very small portion of OWASA's Fiscal Year 2020 $25.5 million operating budget. According to, Fluoridation and Social Equity3, by Brian A. Burt BIDS, MPH, Ph.D., there is no practical alternative to water fluoridation for reducing disparities in the US for low socioeconomic communities. There are additional ways in which communities can obtain fluoride such as through over- the-counter products (toothpaste and mouthwash) and prescription only products (supplements). These products are not as effective at preventing tooth decay because they are often not used enough and present an economic barrier to some.Z 5. Is Community Water Fluoridation implemented fairly? 10