Lismore City Council will debate the controversial issue of adding fluoride to the water supply for the third time this year.

The fluoridation of drinking water is opposed for a range of reasons including health concerns and the belief that it represents "mass-medication."

Lismore Councillor Vanessa Ekins has proposed a motion to scrap council fluoridation plans.

She says the science is inconclusive and there there should be a community referendum on the issue.

"We've never actually asked the community what they want," she said.

Councillor Ekins says most council members do not have a scientific background.

"So I don't know how well able they've been able to grasp some of the scientific documentation that they've been sent or exposed to," she said.

Councillor Ekins says previous Department of Health surveys show community support for fluoridation is dubious.

"They ended up phoning 27 people in this local government area and asking them if they supported putting fluoride in the water supply for improving people's dental health," she said.

"It wasn't what I believe would be appropriate community consultation.

"I'd really like to see us have a referendum at the next state government election."

Deputy Mayor Neil Marks says if the motion opposing fluoridation is rejected he will put forward a motion to refer the issue to the State Government, effectively endorsing a pro-fluoride stance.

"It stops it coming back in three months time for yet another debate, and then three months time after that," he said.

"It takes it out of our hands, it gets clarity and assurance for all of those involved as to what's happening."

He says the fluoride plans have been delayed several years, since an original 2006 decision.