WASHINGTON – If you’re looking for the
best tasting water in the nation, move to Massachusetts.
In this rural community, all you have to do is turn the
faucet for pure “Quality On Tap!”
Southampton, MA, one of the top five finalists at the
9th Annual Great American Water Taste Test, walked away
with top honors and the Gold Medal. The taste test is
held each year on Capitol Hill in conjunction with the
National Rural Water Association’s Annual Rally in
Washington, D.C. The nation's largest community based
environmental organization, the National Rural Water
Association (NRWA), held its annual meeting in
Washington, D.C. along with the Great American Water
Taste Test. The goal: to prove that great-tasting water
comes straight from the tap.
Safe, clean, affordable
water is a major issue anywhere in the world. In fact,
nothing is more precious or raises bigger debate than
quality water, whether it is bottled or straight from
the tap. On Tuesday, April 22nd, the top water from
small community drinking water suppliers from across the
nation were in the hot seat, as judges tasted, slurped,
sniffed, and gurgled their way to determine the best of
the best.
NRWA represents
over 26,242 rural and small utilities, so it’s a big
deal to make it to the final competition where
Southampton competed against top water systems from
around the nation. The other finalists included North
Kingstown, Rhode Island; Lewes, Delaware; Lorain County,
Ohio; and Avilla, Indiana.
Judges for the event were, EPA's Ben Grumbles, USDA's
Teresa Lasseter, and Melanie Rhinehart-VanTassell with
U.S. Rep. Pomeroy (ND). Water is judged based on three
attributes: clarity, bouquet, and taste. State contests
conduct preliminary competitions selecting the best
water to represent their state at the national finals.
Each judge evaluated glasses of water from the five
finalists measuring them on clarity, bouquet and taste.
State Rural Water Associations conduct preliminary
competitions selecting the best water from small and
rural systems to represent their state at the national
finals.
Each April, the National Rural Water
Association sponsors the Rural Water Rally and Great
American Taste Test on Capitol Hill to give utility and
state officials an opportunity to visit one-on-one with
their Congressional representatives and discuss key
water and wastewater issues.
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Judges (in lab coats) left to right: Melanie Thinehart-Van Tassell, Teresa Lasseter, Ben Grumbles
3rd from left:
Rodney Tart, President, National Rural Water Association |
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1st Place:
Southhampton Water Department
Contact: Joe Slattery
Number of Connections: 1261
Source of Water: Well Water
Year Established:
Contact phone: 413-626-1821
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2nd Place:
Rural Lorain County Water Authority
Contact: Tim Mahoney
Number of Connections: 20,000
Source of Water: Lake Water
Year Established: 1973
Contact phone: 440-355-5121
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3rd Place:
Town of North Kingstown
Contact: Susan Licardi
Number of Connections: 9,200
Source of Water: Groundwater
Year Established: 1939
Contact phone: 401-294-3331
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