Posted at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 15, 2001

Fluoridation planned for Lana'i water

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

State health officials said they plan to make Lanai the first non-military community in the state to put fluoride in its drinking water.

The fluoridation plan is in response to Lana'i's community concerns about their high tooth decay rate, said Dr. Mark Greer, chief of the state Dental Health Division. The fluoridation system is scheduled to be up and running by next spring, Greer said.

"Simply put, children on Lana'i have the highest tooth decay rate in the state," Greer said. "Our state has among the highest tooth decay rates in the nation."

Greer said the plan will be paid for though the state Department of Health using tobacco settlement money, which is meant to improve community health.

Lana'i's water system is privately owned and operated by Lanai Water Co. and the company decided to fluoridate its water after meeting with the community, Greer said.

"Process-wise we've done everything we need to do in terms of working with the people on Lana'i," Greer said. "We're not imposing on the community. We're working in support of them. They demonstrated the interest of fluoridation. They promoted this in their own community."

The military has fluoridated its drinking water since the mid-1950s, Greer said.