This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'Local goverment implementation of water fluoridation'.

When replying please quote: 8733872
7 March 2022
Ministry of Health
133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
WELLINGTON 6140
Delivered by email to: [email address]
Dear Sir
PLANNING FOR COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION
In response to your enquiry dated 15 December 2021, we have reviewed our four community water 
supplies of New Plymouth, Inglewood, Oakura and Okato and have established the rough order cost to 
introduce fluoridation.
The  New  Plymouth  water  supply  was  previously  fluoridated  until  2010.  We  have  inspected  the 
equipment which remains on site and found that it is no longer fit for purpose. We therefore consider 
that  a  “new  build”  solution  would  be  required.  The  remaining  three  supplies  have  never  been 
fluoridated. There are currently no plans to introduce fluoridation in the long term plan and no budget 
has been provided. 
In assessing how we might introduce fluoridation we have noted that the operational costs for small 
supplies is disproportionately large in comparison to large supplies. The chemical of choice may be 
different and due to small volumes required the cost of the chemical is higher than for large supplies. 
The equipment required to dose fluoride and to monitor and control the dosing is essentially the same 
regardless  of  the  supply  size,  requiring  the  same  operator  input  for  calibration  and  validation  of 
instrumentation and similar maintenance of pumps, valves and controls.
The responses to your questionnaire are tabulated below. 
New 
Inglewood
Oakura
Okato
Plymouth
What is the status of fluoridation 
Not 
Not 
Not 
Not Installed
infrastructure? (select an option)
Installed
Installed
Installed
Are fluoridation capital works underway or  No
No
No
No
planned? (Yes/No)
Expected date for completion of capital 
works, if relevant (enter date) ie: respond if  N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
answer to Column D was yes
Estimated capital works cost to fluoridate 
$250,000
$100,000
$100,000
$100,000
supply if a direction is issued (dollars)
Document Set ID: 8733872
Version: 2, Version Date: 08/03/2022



New 
Inglewood
Oakura
Okato
Plymouth
Budgeted capital works costs to fluoridate 
supply included in long term plans or 
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
budgets (dollars and allocation year/s)
Estimated number of months that would be 
required to fluoridate water supply if a 
24
24
24
24
direction is issued
Mark Hall, 
Name and contact details of key contact for  [email address]
Community Water Fluoridation
06 759 6060
Private Bag 2025, New Plymouth 4340
Previously 
installed 
fluoridation 
decommissi
Any other comments
oned in 
2011, and 
no longer 
fit for 
purpose.
Yours faithfully
Mark Hall
Manager Three Waters
Document Set ID: 8733872
Version: 2, Version Date: 08/03/2022