Judge Orders Fluoride Back in Birmingham's Water

0:00It's March 31st, you're listening to Birmingham News today, AI-powered local news. A Jefferson County Circuit Judge just ordered Alabama's biggest water utility, Central Alabama Water, to pump fluoride back into the drinking supply. This comes after Birmingham sued, saying the utility broke state law by ditching fluoride without giving 90 days notice to the state health. Officer Judge Frederick Allen Bowling slapped them with a temporary restraining order on Monday calling it a blatant disregard for the rules. The law is clear under Alabama Code, Section 22, 23, 21. Public water systems got to notify ahead for permanent changes too. Fluoridation or resume until they do. Bowling ruled Birmingham proved real harms of folks' health that it'd be tough to fix or measure later. He told the utility to get it done with all deliberate speed, ordering equipment if needed and approving over time, across every plant they run, not.

1:00Just one. Utility reps pushed back, saying plants stopped fluoridating years ago due to maintenance fails under the old Birmingham Water Works Board, with no public heads up thin. The note only one plant was even working when they took over, and fixing the rest would take two years, so they paused it off her fairness before A, New State Ac restructured Things. The order kicked in at 2.30pm, Sunday and holds till 5pm. April 2nd, with a hearing for a longer injunction set for noon, that same. Day. Central Alabama Water ain't commenting much since the suits ongoing. This fluoride fight highlights bigger tensions over water rules and public health in Birmingham, and it'll play out as the court digs deeper into who. Drop the ball first. Stay tuned for updates.