Jared Staszewski, founder of ErieWaterSurvey.com, is calling on Erie Water Works (EWW) to publicly acknowledge a landmark federal court ruling that questions the safety of water fluoridation. In September 2024, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen concluded that fluoridation at the recommended U.S. level of 0.7 mg/L poses an “unreasonable risk” of neurotoxicity.
The issue resurfaced during a recent EWW board meeting when CEO Craig Palmer cited a new U.S. study suggesting modest cognitive benefits from fluoride exposure at optimal levels. Staszewski criticized the utility for focusing on potential benefits while ignoring the court’s findings, noting that Erie has fluoridated its water since 2002.
Staszewski launched ErieWaterSurvey.com in June 2025 to gather community input on fluoridation. The survey now centers on two questions. Should Erie Water Works continue fluoridating the water? Should funds be redirected from fluoridation to other dental health initiatives?
He also raised concerns about the broader impact of fluoride, including its corrosive effects on infrastructure, costs of water filtration for residents, and whether non-human uses of water such as plants and animals benefit from added fluoride.
“Many residents already filter their water to avoid fluoride risks,” Staszewski said. “Is the expense and potential harm really worth it?”
EWW has not yet issued a formal response to Staszewski’s call for acknowledgment.