UPDATE: Fluoride in your Drinking Water

"We have to rely on the existing government standards. We'll consider fluoride safe until the standards say otherwise."
- Metropolitan Water District, Oct. 4

In August, I asked you to take action to keep fluoride out of your water. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)--which serves 18 million people in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties--planned to add fluoride to your tap water, despite new evidence of fluoridated water's health risks.

Your response was so overwhelming that MWD asked us to stop the phone calls and emails. Nice work!

Now the bad news: Your opposition and our science weren't enough to change MWD's mind. MWD officials just told us they'll begin adding fluoride to your water later this month as scheduled.

Many of you and dozens of other concerned citizens spoke out at a public hearing. After the hearing, MWD asked EWG for a review of the latest scientific studies on fluoridation, and soon after that California health officials announced they will look the new evidence to see if safety standards for fluoride need to be stronger.

It is incredibly disturbing that MWD is going ahead, even as the state is preparing to review its standards. The district has already waited since 2003, when its directors first voted to fluoridate. Why not wait until the state decides? At EWG, we will stay on top of the state's review process, making sure that all the evidence is considered.

In the meantime, some Southern California fluoride activists are considering legal action. Others are putting their energy into trying to inform MWD customers, especially the parents of infants who drink formula mixed with tap water, of the health risks.

Take Action. Visit Citizens for Safe Drinking Water and Fluoride Action Network to see what you can do.

Together, we'll keep working toward the day when drinking water supplies are fluoride-free.

Sincerely,
Bill Walker
Vice President/West Coast