A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-170 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Health; regulations governing waterworks; prohibition on fluoridation of water.
HB537 would amend Virginia Code § 32.1-170, which governs Board of Health regulations for waterworks, water supplies, and pure water. The bill keeps the existing framework for permits, water quality standards, inspections, testing, recordkeeping, emergency planning, and consumer confidence report procedures, but adds a new requirement that Board regulations prohibit fluoridation of public water supplies.
Specifically, the bill directs the Board of Health to adopt regulations preventing any waterworks from adding fluoride or fluoride compounds to drinking water, including sodium fluoride, sodium fluorosilicate, and fluorosilicic acid. It also requires chemical monitoring rules to include testing for fluoridation. The bill does not otherwise change the Board’s authority over waterworks operations, but it would significantly alter what treatment additives public water systems may use in Virginia.
If enacted, HB537 would change the Board of Health’s regulatory authority by expressly barring fluoridation in public water systems and requiring related testing in water quality monitoring. This would affect waterworks operators, local utilities, and the Board’s rulemaking under § 32.1-170, while leaving the rest of the waterworks regulatory structure intact. It would also likely affect communities that currently fluoridate water or rely on fluoridation as a public health measure.
The available record shows little formal debate or recorded voting activity, and the bill was left in the House Committee on Health and Human Services. That procedural outcome suggests the bill did not advance, but the absence of transcripts or votes means there is no documented committee sentiment in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s subject matter, it appears to be a policy proposal aimed at ending fluoridation rather than a consensus measure.
The central point of contention is the bill’s prohibition on fluoridation of public water supplies. Supporters would likely view the measure as protecting individual choice or limiting chemical additives in drinking water, while opponents would likely argue that fluoridation is a proven public health tool for preventing tooth decay. The bill also raises practical concerns for water utilities and regulators because it would require changes to treatment practices, compliance monitoring, and Board of Health regulations.