Officials of Watsonville have approved a contract for a $1.6 million grant from the California Dental Association Foundation to design and build a fluoridation system and operate it for two years, according to a story in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
The 4-3 vote on September 28 ended a nearly decade-long battle against fluoridating the beach town's water supply.
A California law requires cities of 10,000 or more people to fluoridate if an outside entity covers costs.
Prior to the vote, about 60 people turned out for a debate in which opponents questioned the safety of fluoride and said putting it in the water supply violated their rights. Supporters included dentists and other health professionals who said fluoridation has been proven over decades to prevent tooth decay.
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