Council moves to take fluoride out of the Borough water supply

At its October 14, 2024 meeting, Council voted to begin the process of removing fluoride from the Borough’s public water supply, acting on requests it had received from residents. The decision starts a procedure rather than flipping a switch: the Borough Manager told Council that removing fluoride is a three- to four-month process involving public meetings, public notices, and compliance with state regulations administered by the PA Department of Environmental Protection.

What fluoridation is, and what the Borough is changing

Many public water systems in the United States add a small, controlled amount of fluoride to drinking water, a practice intended to reduce tooth decay across the population a system serves. It is a local decision: state and federal agencies set limits and reporting rules, but each water system’s governing body chooses whether to fluoridate. Council’s action begins the steps needed to stop that addition in Tyrone. It does not change anything residents will notice at the tap right away, and it is separate from the treatment that keeps the water safe to drink.

What happens next

Because fluoridation is regulated, the Borough cannot simply discontinue it overnight. Over the coming months the Borough expects to hold public meetings and issue public notices so residents can weigh in, and to coordinate the change with DEP so it meets the agency’s requirements for a water system altering its treatment. Residents who want to follow the timeline or comment can watch the Borough’s agendas and meeting minutes and the Water Department page for notices as the process moves forward.

This action is unrelated to the Borough’s ongoing work on water service lines, which concerns the pipes that carry water to homes rather than what is added during treatment.

On record: Council’s motion to begin removing fluoride is part of the public meeting record at the Borough Office, 1100 Logan Avenue. Learn more about the state agency that oversees public water systems at the PA Department of Environmental Protection.