Water companies have abandoned all pretence of concern for their customers by pressuring the Government into relieving them of "discretion" when decisions are made by Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) to add fluoride to public water supplies.

They know water fluoridation contravenes several human rights conventions and acts, which is why they have also asked for civil and criminal indemnity if forced to fluoridate.

SHAs support water fluoridation and, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, refuse to admit it has any adverse health effects.

The vague "public consultations" they are supposed to hold on this form of mass medication are unethical and should be condemned as attempts to steal the rights of individuals to refuse medication or treatment.

Since this new Water Act became law several weeks ago, the National Pure Water Association (NPWA) has received thousands of calls from people all over the UK furious that SHAs now have almost total power to force populations to receive dental treatment via their water supply, regardless of individual need or consent.

-Graham Parfitt, Brighton