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‘People Should Make Their Own Healthcare Decisions’: Pasco, Washington, Becomes Latest City to End Water Fluoridation

Pasco, Washington, joined 80 other communities, including two states — Utah and Florida — and several counties that have ended fluoridation since September 2024.

The city of Pasco, Washington, became one of the largest cities to end water fluoridation since September 2024, when a federal judge ruled that fluoridated water poses an “unreasonable risk” to children.

City officials in November 2025 voted 4-2 to end the practice.

Pasco, which has a population of about 80,000, is one of at least seven city councils in the state to debate water fluoridation.

Before voting on the issue, the city held a public debate. According to the city’s website, the debate attracted “the highest level of participation for any public input campaign in recent City history.”

“The more people know about fluoridation, the more they’re opposed to it,” Fluoride Action Network (FAN) board member Rick North told The Defender. City by city, they’re finding out, and more and more city councils are voting accordingly.”