Adding Fluoride Equipment to Buffalo Water After 9 Years

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini

20 minutes ago

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Water is on track to complete new system upgrades and restore fluoride to the city’s drinking water by the end of the summer after nine years.

On Thursday, the fluoridation process began with the installation of the necessary equipment near the filtration plant at the Colonel Ward Pumping Station. A professional diver arrived at the plant early this morning to install a flow meter that will determine the appropriate amount of fluoride to add to the water.

The topic of fluoride has been a source of conflict in the city in the past. In 2015, fluoride was removed from the water without informing citizens. Residents were not informed until 2023.

Buffalo Water Board Chairman OJ McFoy had said the mineral was removed for a distribution system upgrade and blamed the pandemic for the nine-year wait. Following a class-action lawsuit against the city board, a city spokesperson said the fluoride would return later this year, in 2023.

Buffalo Water received state approval to make further system upgrades earlier this year.

System programming and initial testing are expected to be completed this month, with additional work expected to continue in August.