The city of Pasco is asking the community to weigh in on the city council’s recent decision to stop fluoridating the city’s water supply. 

State law requires a public process for community engagement whenever a municipality starts or discontinues water fluoridation. Pasco officials are gathering input through a survey and public feedback sessions, according to a release. 

The public feedback sessions will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 5 and Sept. 17 at city hall, with the option to attend in-person or remotely. Feedback will be shared with council members before a final decision is made. 

Pasco is the only Tri-City community that fluoridates its water supply, which is currently at a level of 0.7 parts per million.  

Most drinking water has some natural fluoridation, which in Pasco is less than 0.2 parts per million. The Mid-Columbia region as a whole tends to have a higher natural fluoridation level than elsewhere in the state, according to the Washington Department of Health. 

Nearly 3 out of 4 people living in the U.S. currently have fluoridated drinking water, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Most U.S. communities began fluoridating their water supplies in the 1950s as studies showed that fluoridated water helps prevent tooth decay.