Fluoridation of Mena Water Supply Complete

BY LEANN DILBECK –

The Mena Water Department’s implementation of fluoridation to the water system is operating smoothly and now makes the utility compliant with guidelines required by the Arkansas Department of Health since the passage of Act 197 in 2011 by the  88^th Arkansas General Assembly by a vote of 56-35.

Act 197 states that affected water systems, defined as “supplies water directly or through a consecutive system to 5,000 persons or more,” were not required to comply with the statute until sufficient funds other than those from tax or service revenue were available to pay reasonable capital start-up costs. The Mena Water Utility services approximately 13,500 customers through the city limits and also supplies the Acorn Rural Water, Freedom Rural Water, and Leflore 17 / Big Cedar systems.

Mena was among 33 other Arkansas water systems impacted by the passage of Act 197.  According to the American Dental Association in 2012, approximately 74.6% of U.S. public water systems are fluoridated.

Proponents of the bill cited the monetary and public health benefits which would result from fluoridation, particularly for children, and referred to a survey of Arkansans, which showed support for fluoridation.

Critics of the bill, however, focused on continued operational costs for water systems after start-up and on what they viewed as governmental intrusion in a decision best made at the local level. The survey referenced was a poll commissioned by the Washington D.C. based Pew Center conducted in January 2011 to a sample size of Arkansas voters found 67% supported government action to expand fluoridation to more communities and 28% opposed, 5% were undecided.

According to the Arkansas Department of Health, supporters of the bill argued that the average annual operating cost for fluoridation of $0.50 per person per year would have a much higher payback. Among the paybacks listed were a reduction in Medicaid costs for the state because of fewer cavities in children; reduced lost time at work and in school due to fewer dental problems; and reduced health care costs for families since the average expense to fill one cavity is more than twice the individual lifetime cost to supply properly fluoridated water.

Proponents also argued that like the health benefits resulting from the addition of vitamin D to milk and iodine to salt, the benefits of fluoridation transcended the “local choice” argument.

Mena notified its customers of the addition of fluoride to its water via billing statements in January and February 2014. The actual process began on March 7. Charles Pitman, Mena Water Utility Manager, said that no one ever attended any of the Water Commission’s meetings to oppose the action.

Delta Dental funded 100% of the upgrade in Mena and all Arkansas water systems impacted by Act 197.

“The process has gone quite seamlessly and it does put us in full compliance with the Arkansas Department of Health regarding Act 197,” said Pitman. “Again, it’s a decision that doesn’t rest with us locally so if anyone is seeking more information or has any concerns, they should contact the Arkansas Department of Health, Office of Oral Health at 501-661-2595.”

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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