Fluoridation of public water may be among the items to be found on the November 2018 election ballot in Uintah County. According to the Uintah County Clerk/Auditor Office, an application has been received to gather signatures for “Fluoridation of the public water supplies for the Central Utah and the Ashley Valley Water Districts of Uintah County.” The application is signed by five sponsors including Michael C. Smuin, Jason Monfredi, Daren L. Larsen, Ethan Pettit, and Karl L. Breitenbach. If the required 1,618 signatures are gathered by April 16th, the question of whether to fluoridate public water will be included on the November 2018 ballot. A letter dated March 2nd, addressed to Vernal City officials, and signed by the ‘Uintah Basin healthcare professionals’ states that the process of adjusting the level of fluoride in the drinking water to an “optimal therapeutic level” has begun as signatures are now being gathered. The group refers to scientific research supporting fluoride in public drinking water and says that “as local healthcare professionals we endorse this and feel it is time this issue be discussed within our community.” The group encourages the public to become educated on the topic by talking with their physician or dentist. A group known on Facebook as Uintah County Citizens Against Public Water Fluoridation are actively resisting the effort to have Uintah County drinking water fluoridated. The group encourages the public to do their own research on “the dangers of water fluoridation” stating it is critical the public get educated “on the toxic hazards and dangers.”
