States go head-to-head in search of Australia’s best tasting tap water
The Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) will stage the 4th Ixom Best Tasting Tap Water in Australia competition on Wednesday 17 October 2018 in Toowoomba, Queensland; the state from which last year’s winning sample was taken.
Using a blind taste test approach samples will be judged on colour, clarity, odour, mouthfeel and taste.
Water providers from various regional and metropolitan areas have participated in state competitions during the year and now each states best tasting tap water will go head to head for the national title.
The community of Toowoomba are invited to take part in the judging at the Grand Central Shopping Centre from 11am on Wednesday 17 October with the winner announced at 12.45pm.
The winning state providers invited to submit samples at the national competition are:
Queensland: Livingstone Shire Council – Yeppoon
NSW: Port Macquarie Hastings Council – Port Macquarie
Tasmania: TasWater – Bryn Estyn (Greater Hobart)
South Australia: SA Water – Woolpunda WTP
Victoria: Wannon Water – Hamilton WTP
The winner of the Ixom 2018 Best Tasting Tap Water competition will have bragging rights for the next 12 months and will go on to represent Australia at the annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition held in West Virginia, USA.
While the competition itself is all in the spirit of good fun there is a meaningful undertone to it, recognising the hard work of those who ensure safe, clean drinking water is available to us, every day.
Stephen Rasdell, Ixom’s General Manager of Water, said that there’s an important reason for Ixom’s involvement in the taste test competition.
“We have been involved in Australian water treatment for some 80 years and are incredibly proud of the work being done in this space. IXOM has the expertise and experience to ensure high quality drinking water is supplied to homes around Australia.
We’re thrilled to be a part of this event and to celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and communities in supplying and maintaining exceptional water quality,” says Stephen Rasdell.
Craig Mathisen, WIOA Chief Operations Officer, states “Members of the general public would probably be surprised to learn the complexities involved in delivering high-quality water to our taps each day.”
“The competition is a testament to the excellent quality of Australian water and to the diligence and commitment of the operational employees who deliver it to our communities.
“Many of us turn on taps for a drink, to cook and shower, with little consideration of what it takes to operate and maintain the water infrastructure.
“We want to celebrate our unsung heroes - the water operators and the maintenance crews who work all year-round to ensure we have high quality water, which is essential to keep us alive,” he continues.
