BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) City residents have not had fluoride in
their water for years. In January, a Buffalo Water Board report
stated that fluoride hasnt been in the citys water since 2015.
Months later, many are still asking when it will go back into the
water.
Robert Galbraith and his family live in the city and are upset
over the situation.
Its frustrating and its really sad too. I mean, it does not
appear as if they care about this, Galbraith said.
Galbraith has now joined the lawsuit against the city.
SEE ALSO: Class action lawsuit filed against city of Buffalo
regarding lack of fluoride in city water
As a parent, its absolutely infuriating, he added.
As of Tuesday, the chairman of the Buffalo Water Board, OJ McFoy
told 7 News Kristen Mirand that Buffalo Water is still aiming for
the end of the year, but no other updates or timelines were
provided. A spokesperson for the city also confirmed this response.
In a closed meeting on Wednesday, the board went into an executive
session to discuss the pending lawsuit.
While we still wait for answers, Peter Merlo, Principal Engineer
for the citys Division of Water, explained how the water treatment
process works at the Colonel Ward Pumping Station. The process
starts out on the lake.
Thats our intake and thats the current location where all the
water from the City of Buffalo comes through, Merlo explained.
The water then flows into the pumping station which is typically
when fluoride would be added. Merlo then showed Mirand the wet
labs.
At this point, we can monitor the quality of water at different
points in our treatment process, he said, So, right now what this
is telling me is that the quality of the water is just absolutely
fantastic.
Merlo then explained the sites testing room. He said if theyre
making any chemical changes, theyll test the water in lead and
copper pipes to see how it reacts. This would include the process
of switching over from a powder form of fluoride to a liquid
form.
Were trying to, again, minimize any potential for something
adverse, he added.
He said the testing process usually takes about a year. But, the
transition to a new form of fluoride is taking too long for Robert
Corp, with Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria, who is helping with the
lawsuit.
Well, now its May and so if were still going with a timeline of
by the end of the year well that remains very frustrating, Corp
said.
Corp and Galbraith hope theyll soon see a sense of urgency.
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