Best Tasting Water Contest Results,
FRWA Conference

18 utility companies serving customers in Florida came together at the FRWA Conference last week to compete in the Best Tasting Water Contest.  We spoke to Ben Lewis, State Water Trainer, and got the details about FRWA’s annual event.

Contestants are judged on four factors:  taste, odor, color and the quench factor.  The first three categories are easy to understand, but what exactly is “the quench factor?”  When asked Ben about this category, he explained that it is to observe how refreshed you feel after tasting the sample, the “ahhh” factor.

Up to 120 potential points per contestant are up for grabs from three judges.  Each judge can give up to 10 points per category, and the identity of the judges is anonymous.  The three judges are picked in the following way:

• One judge must be from a regulatory body, such as the FDEP.
• The second judge must be a vendor present at the conference.
• The third judge is either the head chef from the hotel or can also be an individual from a water utility that is not participating in the contest.

When judging the water samples, judges assign each sample a number, and it takes the panel about 30-45 minutes to complete the tastings, make their decisions, assign points, and determine a winner.

This year, Talquin Electric Cooperative, Meadows Regional Water took first place in this year’s contest by earning 106 out of 120 points.  They will go on to compete in the 2019 National Rural Water Association’s Water Rally in Washington, D.C.