St. Lucie West Services District Ceases Chemical Fluoride Feed Systems
Published on December 03, 2024
Port St. Lucie, FL – Dec. 3, 2024 – In light of a recent ruling by a U.S. District Court, the St. Lucie West Services District (SLWSD) has made the decision to immediately discontinue its use of chemical fluoride feed systems. This action follows the court's determination that feeding fluoride at levels above 0.7 mg/l poses an “unreasonable risk to injury to health or the environment” and could create harm, particularly to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations, without considering costs or other risk factors.
In response to this ruling, and upon the recommendation of the Florida Surgeon General, SLWSD has opted to cease all chemical fluoride feed systems until further guidance is provided by St. Lucie County, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and the State of Florida.
SLWSD will continue to comply with all current water quality monitoring regulations, including fluoride testing, as mandated by FDEP and local authorities, until more definitive instructions are provided on the matter.
“We are committed to the health and safety of our community and will continue to follow the direction of relevant authorities as they assess the impact of this court ruling,” said Joshua Miller SLWSD District Manager. “The decision to shut down the chemical fluoride feed systems was made in the interest of public safety, while we await further clarity.”
SLWSD will provide updates as more information becomes available from St. Lucie County, FDEP, and state agencies.
SLWSD is dedicated to delivering high-quality water services to St. Lucie West residents and businesses, prioritizing public health and safety while meeting all environmental and regulatory standards. Established in 1990, SLWSD manages a 4,600-acre community and provides potable water, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and reclaimed water irrigation. Learn more at www.slwsd.org.
For questions regarding this press release contact:
Anderson Bomjardim, Public Information Officer, at abomjardim@slwsd.org.