Fluoridated Water Coming Down the Pipes to Ramona
By Regina Elling

Something new is coming to Ramona, but residents won't be able to see it, taste it, feel it or smell it. And while they won't even be able to hear it, without a doubt, they will hear about it.

The "something new" is fluoridated water; what residents will hear about it ranges from a nonchalant "who cares?" to a full-blown battle cry of "I'm not drinking that in my water!"

But no matter their opinion on the matter, come Dec. 3, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) will begin sending fluoridated water from miles away. This water will ultimately be delivered to local customers by the Ramona Municipal Water District (RMWD).

Fluoride has been as issue as far back as 1995, when then-Gov. Pete Wilson signed a law stating that public water systems with 10,000 or more connections would have to fluoridate their drinking water if money became available to pay for the initial equipment and operating costs.

The money has become available.

"The MWD recently received grant money to pay for the costs of fluoridation," says Tom Brammell, general manager for the RMWD. About 80 percent of the water used in San Diego County is supplied by the MWD.

Homeowners on private wells will not be receiving fluoridated water.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring chemical element that helps teeth resist tooth decay; it is also found in normal tooth enamel. However, fluoridated water has been controversial since its beginnings in 1945, when fluoride was added to the water supply in Grand Rapids, Mich.

While most dentists and many health groups strongly support the use of fluoridated water, many private citizens are against it, and worry about the health risks of the added chemical.

Brammell says he has received very few calls from concerned citizens, and that much of the controversy over the addition of fluoride to the local water supply has come from individuals who do not even live in the area.

"I am not a scientist and I am not a doctor," he says. "That is the water they send us, and we really have no choice in the matter. Refusing to accept the water is not an option."

However, he understands that some individuals may have health concerns about fluoridation, especially if they have infants or perhaps already take fluoride for their teeth.

"If someone is truly concerned about the effect of fluoridated water on their general health or their teeth, they should contact their general health provider or personal dentist," Brammell says. "They should be able to get many of their questions answered by asking the appropriate personnel."

According to the MWD Web site, www.mwdh2o.com, both reverse osmosis systems and distillation units remove significant amounts of fluoride.

For more information on the Ramona Municipal Water District, visit www.rmwd.org. The Web site has several links to specific information on the use of fluoridation in the water supply, including a link to frequently asked questions.