Regulator didn't raise concerns over Wellington fluoride failure

Fluoride in the Wellington region was switched off last year without residents being told. Photo / 123RF

Regional Public Health (RPH) was aware Wellington's water wasn't being fluoridated properly since 2016, but the regulator did not raise any concerns.

An independent inquiry, made public last week, reveals the extent of the region's fluoride failure stretches back many years and across several organisations.

Wellington's tamariki will likely bear the consequences, with one doctor describing the situation as a dental disaster.

The review was launched following revelations Wellington Water turned off fluoride at two plants last year without telling the board, councils, or residents.

It found water in the region hasn't been fluoridated properly for six years. Fluoride was administered effectively less than 20 per cent of the time at two treatment plants.

This was because oral health was not a priority within the water company, where staff's main focus was on safe drinking water and ensuring the supply was never over-dosed with fluoride.

It turns out it also wasn't a priority for RPH - an organisation created to "promote good health, prevent disease, and improve the quality of life for our population".

The review found RPH, the water regulator up until September 2020, was told about the under-dosing of fluoride in Wellington but never raised it as a concern.

As of July 1 RPH no longer exists and Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand has taken over.

The region's Medical Officer of Health Stephen Palmer confirmed they were aware of inconsistent levels of fluoridation since 2016.

"Our emphasis was on the safety of the drinking water rather than ensuring optimal levels of fluoridation.

"We were aware that Wellington Water were taking a conservative approach to dosing levels, which ensured public safety but did not provide effective oral health protection."

Wellington Water chief executive Colin Crampton. Photo / Mark Tantrum

Palmer said there were obvious health risks with over-dosing the supply.

"Our priority as the regulator at the time was to ensure that over-dosing did not occur."

Health New Zealand was working closely with the Ministry of Health, Taumata Arowai (the new regulator), and Wellington Water to ensure a solution was found to safely and effectively fluoridate drinking water, Palmer said.

Wellington Water has apologised for the failure and committed to implementing all the findings of the review.

The company is working towards returning fluoridation to the two plants where it was switched off by September this year.

Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners medical director Dr Bryan Betty said there could be an upswing in tooth decay.

"Tooth decay in children is a very large issue. It's one that we confront on a daily basis, it's one that we see on a daily basis, especially in the Porirua basin.

"Preventative measures like fluoridation in the water, brushing your teeth twice a day, and drinking less sugary drinks are fundamentally important to the health of children's teeth."

New Zealand Dental Association spokesman Dr Rob Beaglehole said it was a dental disaster.

He said people living in deprivation, who don't brush their test daily with fluoride toothpaste, and those who excessively consume sugary drinks were most likely to be affected.

"They may be experiencing higher levels of new dental decay and that experience may also be more severe."

Hutt South MP Ginny Andersen told Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills her youngest child had just turned 8.

"So, for the bulk of the years of her life, I've been thinking as a parent that she's been drinking water with fluoride in it when she hasn't."

National list MP Chris Bishop said it was a shocking failure on multiple levels.

The review also found there was no documentation setting out service-level expectations for optimal fluoridation between the regional council, which owns the bulk water supply assets, and Wellington Water.

Council chairman Daran Ponter said the relationship between the two parties will have to be made more specific than one based more broadly on trust and confidence.

"It (the fluoride failure) does affect your confidence, because it now raises the question of what else?"

The council has already confirmed it will introduce a key performance indicator for fluoridation.

Asked whether people in leadership roles at Wellington Water should keep their jobs, Ponter said the council would meet to consider whether there should be any consequences at a board level.

Current Wellington Water board chairwoman Lynda Carroll is a relatively fresh face to the organisation.

She was appointed to the board in June 2021 and took over as chairwoman in November.