Cromwell people will not be drinking fluoridated water any time soon, after the Cromwell Community Board voted on Monday not to add fluoride to the town's drinking water.
Chairman Neil Gillespie said he was not in favour of doing something for which the board had no clear mandate.
In the referendum held at last year's local body elections, 979 people in the Cromwell Ward vote yes to fluoride while 730 voted no.
Assets and contracts manager Murray Washington told the community board the fact the Health Minister could not require fluoride to be added to water supplies meant either the case for fluoridation had not been proved or there was a clear intent that the decision should be left to local communities to decide.
Mr Gillespie said if the board was to seriously consider any change, the Otago District Health Board would need to go back to the community to represent clearly and concisely both sides of the argument.
