LEESBURG, Fla. — Leaders in Leesburg could decide to pull the plug on a project to introduce Fluoride into their drinking water.
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City leaders plan to discuss the project Monday evening at city hall.
City commissioners voted to fund construction on a fluoridation project in May of 2024, for $517,697.
According to city documents, more than $300,000 had already been spent on the project, when commissioners decided to put the project on hold in early December.
Since 1945, fluoride has played a crucial role in public health initiatives aimed at reducing dental cavities and improving overall oral health for adults and children. Dental experts say fluoride reduces dental decay by strengthening tooth enamel.
Read: Leesburg to again vote on adding fluoride to water supply Monday
However, In November, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared that President-Elect Donald Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day as president.
Following Kennedy’s remarks, Florida’s Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo held press conferences calling for the end of water fluoridation and spoke of potential “Neuro-psychiatric” risk from fluoride exposure.
Research conducted by the National Toxicology Program found that drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter was linked to lower IQs in children. However, the CDC and National Institute of Health recommend fluoride at half that amount, setting the national standard to 0.7 milligrams.
According to the National Toxicology Program’s own research, more studies are needed to determine whether fluoride at the national standard of 0.7 milligrams could have a negative effect on IQ.
Still, the Surgeon General’s warning has local cities including Leesburg, Tavares, and Winterhaven to reconsider Fluoride in their drinking water.
Read: Tavares leaders to discuss removing fluoride from drinking water
On Monday, multiple local dentists including Lake County Supervisor of Election Alan Hays came to the Leesburg City Council meeting to support continuing the project.
Hays argued commissioners have a chance to greatly improve the health of Leesburg’s children.
“The proof is irrefutable of how beneficial it is to children to have fluoride in the drinking water as the enamel is being formed as those teeth are coming in,” said Hays.
Leesburg Mayor Jimmy Burry also is supported the continuation of the project.
“The benefit of this outweighs any potential risk,” said Burry.
According to Burry, the city has already spent over $300 thousand on the project to boost public health, but about $300 thousand more is needed to finish the job.
If scrapped the city will lose $225,000 in construction costs.
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