Should Pasco keep fluoride in its drinking water? Residents asked to weigh in
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Pasco City Council considers removing fluoride from public water after 30 years.
- Public feedback sought through online survey and meetings ahead of Sept. 29 vote.
- Local educators and dental professionals urge continued fluoridation for child health.
There’s something in the water — an active debate over fluoride.
Some on the Pasco City Council are pushing to remove it from the city’s water.
The city is notifying them of the possible change and getting feedback from residents.
Fluoride was first added to Pasco’s drinking water almost 30 years ago. Levels of the mineral have stayed at or below the recommended level of fluoride, 0.7 milligrams per liter.
It’s a standard set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Community survey and meetings
The Department of Health requires the city to give residents three months notice before the council votes to stop adding fluoride to the public water supply.
The 90 days ends Sept. 29.
In the meantime, the city started an online survey and plans two public meetings on the issue.
The survey is available at www.pasco-wa.gov/1693/fluoride. It asks what city you live in, whether you support or oppose the removal of fluoride in Pasco and if you have any additional comments.
Community members also can sign up for email updates about the process.
Public meetings are set for Aug. 5 and Sept. 17 in person and online.
Already, the council heard a slew of comments at its June 16 meeting. A group of Pasco dentists, a dental hygienist and a retired teacher asked the council to keep the fluoride for the sake of children’s health.
Former Pasco councilwoman and retired educator Rebecca Francik told the council that within five years of fluoride being added to the city’s water, she and other teachers in the Pasco School District noticed fewer children with tooth pain and tooth decay, and fewer students absent or being sent home from school.
“What changed is we put fluoride in the water,” Francik said. “It made a tremendous difference in what we saw in the school systems. The (students) weren’t going out for toothaches.”
“This has been studied over and over and if it’s at the right level, it makes a tremendous difference in the public health of our children,” she said.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. Most public water systems contains some fluoride.
Studies have shown it helps prevent cavities and promotes dental health.
Fluoride discussion
The Washington State Department of Health does not require public water systems to add fluoride to drinking water. The state Board of Health oversees the state’s fluoridation of drinking water rule.
Pasco is the only city in the Tri-Cities that fluoridates its water. West Richland has naturally occurring fluoride that can be higher than optimal.
Kennewick and Richland water has too little naturally occurring fluoride to detect and the cities do not add it.
Pasco Councilman Leo Perales started the discussion about fluoride at a June 2 council meeting.
Mayor Pete Serrano, Mayor Pro Tem David Milne, Councilman Charles Grimm and Councilman Perales all said during the meeting they favor removing fluoride.
None of the council members gave a specific reason for why, however.
Councilman Peter Harpster said that he didn’t know enough at the time of the meeting to make an informed decision.
But some of the council’s discussions have mentioned that exposure to high levels of fluoride can potentially cause some cognitive development issues.
This story was originally published June 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
