Water fluoridation
1. Who decides whether or not water is fluoridated?
Not Council. A law change in November 2021 means it is the Manatu Hauora Ministry of Health – not councils – which make all decisions about fluoride.
2. Does Waipā District Council add fluoride to its water supplies?
No. Waipā has never added fluoride to any of its water supplies.
3. Will fluoride be added to Waipā water in the future?
Yes. In July 2022, Council was directed by Manatu Hauora Ministry of Health to add fluoride to the Cambridge water supply. We have not been instructed to add fluoride to any other water supplies in the district.
4. Why is fluoride being added to the Cambridge supply, but not to other parts of the district?
That is a decision made by the Manatu Hauora Ministry of Health. Council has had no input into this decision.
5. What is the planned date for fluoride to the added to the Cambridge supply?
There is no firm date yet. It is expected to be nine months from the date of a funding agreement being signed. As at November 2023, there was still no funding agreement in place.
6. Will Cambridge residents be given notice prior to fluoride being added?
7. Will I have to pay more as part of my water meter charge is water is fluoridated?
Costs will increase slightly to cover the costs. Funding from the Ministry of Health only covers installation of plant required.
8. Will Council be paying for any water filters if people want to remove fluoride?
No. Adding fluoride to the Cambridge supply is something Council is required to do by law; it was not a Council decision.
9. If I put in rain water tanks for water, will I still have to pay the network charge?
If households stay connected to the water network, there will still be a network charge.