Clean-water activist Heath Marter conducts tests of Hixson Utility District water by adding a chemical that makes visible — 30 minutes out — otherwise invisible suspended solids in the water. (Photo David Tulis)
Clean water activist Heath Marter plans to attend the Hixson Utility District board meeting Friday to suggest that the Tennessee code prohibits fluoridation because it poses a threat to public health.
Mr. Marter is concerned that the Hixson Utility District is continuing to put hydrofluorosilicic acid into the water supplies serving more than 20,000 customers in the North Chattanooga area. He says that manager Greg Butler and three board members — Tennessee Commissioner of Human Resources Rebecca Hunter, attorney Jeff Davis and Ken Rich — should not continue the insertion of the acid when no law requires it.
By David Tulis / Noogaradio 92.7
Mr. Butler did not respond to telephone and emailed requests for comment Monday and Tuesday.
In a campaign that he dubs “Get the ‘F’ Out,” Mr. Marter says “it’s blatantly illegal to add any substance that will or may cause harm to humans,” citing the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1983 at TCA 68-221-711.
“I call this forced medication with an unknown drug without consent,” says Mr. Marter, a musician and father of two children. “Fluoride is the 13th most abundant element on the planet. There is no such thing as fluoride deficiency. Not one dentist in the world would publicly recommend [hydrofluorosilicic acid] for anything.”
The act prohibits “the defiling by any person of any water supply of a public water system or the damaging of any pipe or other part of a public water system, unless due to an act of God” and also “the discharge by any person of *** any *** waste or contaminant at such proximity to the intake, well or spring serving a public water system in such a manner or quantity that it will, or will likely, endanger the health or safety of customers of the system or cause damage to the system.”
Heath Marter opens his water test kit in a radio station kitchenette to conduct a test. He is asking Hixson Utility District to end its use of an industrial waste in the water said to help toughen teeth of small children. (Photo David Tulis)
The general assembly may have had in mind external threats to water supplies, but Mr. Marter says the statute applies also to operators of utilities.
Mr. Marter says he obtained lab results Oct. 20 for materials put into the water supply. “The EPA labels [hydrofluorosilicic acid] as a category 6 hazardous waste that’s illegal to dump anywhere on the planet. Notice section 5 of the prohibited acts by municipalities section. It goes on to say it’s illegal to add anything that will damage the equipment.”
Mr. Marter cites the ending of fluoridation by the North West Utility District serving north Hamilton County. “Neighboring city Soddy-Daisy’s public statement for reason that they cancelled its program 19 months ago was the acid was eating through concrete and equipment. Finally it blatantly says it’s illegal to add any substance that will or may cause harm to humans.”
“There are thousands of studies on the adverse health effects of fluoride that are public information online. It has a negative/destructive impact on any living cell it touches. Thousands of Health officials/professionals around the world suggest using fluoride-free water for making infant formula because of adverse health effects.”
“Now all we gotta do to change this is convince local water board members to vote it out. Toothpaste is cheap. Join us. I’ll be attending and video recording local water board meetings until we have a resolution. Join me! Like, comment, and share my post. Attend local meetings if you’re able. Just being there makes a huge difference! Do research and spread the news. Let’s save the kids.”
