The Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act empowers the Director General of Health to direct local authorities to add fluoride to public drinking water supplies.
The Ministry of Health has announced that it will instruct local authorities to use fluoridation from the middle of this year.
However, Christchurch City Council has expressed concern that adding fluoride to its drinking water could delay the delivery of its drinking water improvement program due to its cost and complexity.
A report prepared by the city council advises a minimum of 44 months to implement fluoridation with initial cost estimates exceeding $60 million.
Helen Beaumont, head of the city council’s three waters, said the city council is working closely with the ministry to ensure it fully understands the situation in the city and the complexities of the water supply.
“In December 2021, we provided the Department of Health with all sorts of information about fluoridating our water supply network, including how much it would cost and how long it would take.
“The Director-General of Health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, has now considered this information and has decided that Christchurch City Council will not be one of the first local authorities to receive an instruction on fluoridation,” Beaumont said.
Instead, water supply to the city and the Banks Peninsula will be considered in the coming months, with a decision to be made by the end of the year.
Beaumont said the estimated time frame of at least 44 months was acknowledged by Bloomfield.
He recommended that compliance dates for any direction to fluoridate could be set after July 2024, the date when the new water service entities the government plans as part of its Three Waters Reform program will be established.
“Dr. Bloomfield has strongly encouraged us to continue with the general design work so that we can be more confident about the work, costs and timelines needed to fluoridate the water,” said Beaumont.
“We are committed to working closely with the Department of Health to ensure the best community outcomes from our water supply network.”