The City of Two Rivers is opening the discussion on keeping fluoride in its water.
City Manager Kyle Kordell says the city has been putting the chemical in the water for over 70 years and spends about $12,000 a year for it.
But Kordell says scientists have raised concerns about fluoride in the water.
A video from the media company Vox showed how fluoridation of water started back in the 1940s. Communities did see tooth decay decrease with the chemical in the tap water.
But fluoride is readily available now in toothpaste and other teeth-cleaning products.
The video also says it is important for some people, like pregnant women, to watch how much fluoride they are taking in.
After hearing from Two Rivers Public Utilities about the process of putting the chemical in the water, they noted that it does not break down once it’s in there.
Two Rivers Councilmember Katherine Dahlke said back in the 1950s when it started, it was a different world.
“It was a different world, different medical practices,” she stated. “We ate differently. We drank differently. There were not the same additives in our food. There were not the same pesticides that were being put on our food, so the world has changed. And I think it’s very interesting that now it’s 2026. It’s a whole new world out there. And it’s cause for us to kind of maybe take another look.”
She says she doesn’t have a clear opinion yet, but she’s glad the city is having a discussion.
Councilmember Adam Wachowski says he didn’t know residents with thyroid issues were calling about the fluoride because they are having issues.
He sees having the chemical as more of a negative than a positive.
“There’s other ways that people with fluoride can get fluoride,” he noted. “They (the people in the video) talked about foods and they talked about fluoride in toothpaste. I mean I would say most people brush their teeth every day. I would imagine the fluoride toothpaste is just as cheap as the non-fluoride toothpaste, but I don’t know. I haven’t really looked into this before. But, it only makes sense that we shouldn’t be jamming it down people’s bodies that its not particularly good for.”
Councilwoman Shannon Derby says she’s researched how having fluoride in poorer communities has helped, since it helps prevent cavities.
While people can go to a dentist for help:
“If you’re on state insurance and food stamps, private dentists do not have to take state insurance,” she explained. “You would have to find a community dentist such as in Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Green Bay. And then you’d have to figure out how you’re going to get there, how you are going to get your kids there. It’ s a whole thing to be poor in America and it’s very complicated.”
The city council did not take a vote but could be talking about fluoride in their water in the future.
Fourteen communities in Wisconsin have recently approved taking the chemical out of their water.
