The Judges of the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Contest recently declared Southwest Water Authority fourth for best tasting tap water. The 24th Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Contest was hosted Thursday, February 20 through Saturday, February 22, 2014 in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.
The best tap water in the world hailed from Clearbrook, BC, Canada, followed by the best in the USA which was Santa Ana, CA. Hamilton, OH, placed second and Greenwood BC, Canada, placed third. Southwest Water Authority tied for fourth place with Montpelier, OH. This was the second time Southwest Water Authority has entered the contest, moving up two places from sixth place in 2013.
During the contest, ten media judges spent hours tasting and selecting from among nearly 100 waters sourced from six continents including 18 states, three Canadian provinces, and 12 foreign countries. The judges rated the waters on each attribute including appearance, aroma, taste, mouth feel, and aftertaste. “It was another wonderful year for the longest running and largest water tasting in the world,” remarked perennial watermaster, Arthur von Wiesenberger. “Berkeley Springs is the granddaddy of them all.”