After a year of political whiplash and neighbor-versus-neighbor arguments, the DeForest Village Board has voted 4-2 to put fluoride back in the village water system, reversing a 2025 decision to end fluoridation. Trustees say the return of fluoride will be rolled out in phases, so it will be months before treated water reaches every neighborhood. The move effectively caps a long and bitter local battle that featured a recall election and a tied vote in March.
The latest vote, taken at the May board meeting, came on the heels of an April 7 election that shifted the board toward pro-fluoride candidates, according to Urban Milwaukee. A similar measure had failed in March on a 3-3 tie, local TV coverage reported, and WMTV noted that trustees were evenly split. Public comment at recent meetings has been sharp and emotional on both sides of the fluoridation fight.
Timeline and cost
The engineering firm Vierbicher estimated that upgrades and equipment to add fluoride at the village's four wells will cost about $327,000. Village staff say the work will be staged so that at least one well could be delivering fluoridated water within four to six months, with other wells taking more time. Officials estimate that fully restoring fluoridation across the system could take up to 14 months, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. Some of the installation costs could be offset by a state Community Water Fluoridation equipment grant, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Politics and reaction
The reversal comes after a bruising year that featured a recall effort, resignations, and repeated late-night debates, and several trustees have told reporters the saga has worn the community down. Trustee Jan Steffenhagen-Hahn told Wisconsin Public Radio, "I just hope that we can finally all remember that we are neighbors," while resident Marc Storch said recent elections have functioned as de facto referendums on fluoridation. The board is currently operating with six seated trustees after the former village president stepped down, leaving a vacancy that still needs to be filled.
Legal challenge
Even as the board moves ahead, a DeForest resident has filed a court motion seeking a temporary restraining order to stop the village from spending money to reintroduce fluoride while federal agencies reassess potential risks from the chemical, according to reporting that summarized the court filing. The Fluoride Action Network notes that the complaint asks a judge to bar further action until that federal review is finished. Village officials have not said whether they plan to pause implementation while the litigation plays out.
What residents should expect
Because the rollout will be phased, some parts of DeForest will receive fluoridated water before others, and water operators will track levels to ensure they stay within state and federal standards. Officials say they will keep revisiting costs, construction timelines, and public health guidance at upcoming board meetings. Residents can follow meeting agendas and project updates through the village's public information channels.
Trustees did not set a firm start date for when dosing equipment will begin operating. More details are expected at future board meetings and through local coverage as the project shifts from engineering plans to on-the-ground construction.
