Fluoride levels in Tauranga's water supply are being re-established following the replacement of a fluoride tank at Tauranga City Council’s Waiāri Water Treatment Plant.
In a statement, Tauranga City Council said fluoride will be reintroduced to the water supply from this tank from from today.
"It will take a number of days for fluoride levels to re-establish in the reticulation network to the levels prescribed by the Ministry of Health," said a council spokesperson.
A leak was identified in the tank in March 2025.
The fluoride tank was installed and brought into operation in November 2024, when Council moved to comply with the Director-General of Health’s directive to fluoridate Tauranga’s water supply. The tank was to be repaired under warranty.
The tank was unable to be repaired, and a replacement has been installed, tested and certified. The tank was replaced under warranty, said council.
"Fluoride dosing at the Waiāri Water Treatment Plant was suspended until the replacement tank was operational.
"This primarily affected the water supply to residents east of Golf Road (Waiāri side)."
-Contributed content
8 comments
The Master
Posted on 18-06-2025 14:57 | By Ian Stevenson
In many places in he world, Floride is being removed because it is not a good thing to be ingesting.
M. Mouse
Posted on 19-06-2025 07:20 | By M. Mouse
It's is good to rinse your mouth with but it is not good to drink!
I am not to sure where people get there research from while we such a small world today.
But hey that is well spend tax payers money right.
Oh Dear
Posted on 19-06-2025 07:36 | By Thats Nice
Sad to read this. If you need fluoride, take a tablet so everyone else doesn't have to consume it in our water.
Fluor OK, for now...
Posted on 19-06-2025 07:59 | By Seb.R
In many of those places, people is more educated about their oral health and they can afford to see a dentist. In here, no one cares, and dentist are extremely expensive... So, until we can fix that situation, Fluoride water is the best option.
Think about it
Posted on 19-06-2025 15:15 | By morepork
Is it morally OK to enforce your opinion (even when it is backed by scientific evidence) onto others?
People could "opt in" to fluoridation by using tablets.
You could make the same argument about iodizing table salt.
Back in the last century we were experiencing an unacceptably large percentage of cases of goitre. The Government addressed it by adding the required traces of iodine to table salt, and the epidemic was fixed.
For myself, I no longer use the iodized salt that I grew up with, but I am much better informed and obtain iodine from other sources.
Instead of enforcement, would reliable, independent, information on fluoride be a better solution?
I have seen dental records for children in unfluoridated areas, and it is shocking. But maybe we should just stop feeding them sugar?
The enforcement does work and it solves the problem, but it is repellent.
@ Morepork
Posted on 21-06-2025 09:38 | By k Smith
Well said Morepork, I also have similar experiences. As you mentioned sugar is the main problem and fluoride is a repellant. Its not a solution to the tooth decaying and people not wanting fluoride in the water are need to look at the real problem. One of my arguments on protesting is ( You come up with a butter solution before you protest) then your protest has merit. I said this to many antivaxers and not one of them had a viable option. I think most of it is fear. The dental industry has been wanting the fluoride added in the water for decades.
How many children suffer from dental decay? Thousands. Sugar drinks is the main issue.
@k smith
Posted on 22-06-2025 13:55 | By morepork
You say that Dentists want fluoride. Why do you think that is? (I know NO dentists who benefit financially from flouridation...) I have worked with a dentist in Europe, building him a Website, and had access to his records. Children's teeth in unfluoridated locations are shocking and pitiful. The enforcement of fluoride is (apparently) the only practical solution. But it is still enforcement and that leaves a bad taste. I would prefer we are treated like grown-ups, given unbiased, clean, information and allowed to decide for ourselves. If YOU want fluoride, add it yourself; don't just enforce it on the rest of us.
And there can be no argument that sugar is OK (for adults OR children). Diabetes and the awful consequences from it (amputation and death) are far too high in NZ, compared to the rest of the World.
@ Morepork
Posted on 23-06-2025 11:56 | By k Smith
Yes you are correct about children's teeth. The NZ dental association has for a long time wanted fluoride in our drinking water, there is a lot of information on their web site. Many people are scared it has other health issues but again no evidence of this. The amounts of fluoridation in our water is also calculated by the NZDA. This is a scientific formula which won't also have any harmful effects on anyone but in saying that fluoride is a natural occurring mineral from the earth, it can be found in streams, soil and rocks. In its natural form its a mineral not a chemical.
But also most people who don't like fluoride in their drinking water are sugar consumers, so which is better to consume?
You can get filters that will remove or mostly remover fluoride from your drinking water.
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