SAN ANTONIO, June 13, 2006 -- Illinois American Water, Champaign District took home top honors at the American Water Works Association's (AWWA) 2nd Annual Water Taste Test held at AWWA's Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE) in San Antonio, Texas. The ACE06 "Best of the Best" Water Taste Test is a national competition of winners of state and regional water-tasting competitions.
"Our operators work very hard to ensure the best quality water is delivered to our customers," said Walter Voegel, production operations superintendent, Illinois American Water. "This win is truly a testament to them and all of the employees of Illinois American Water."
Illinois American, which provides water to Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, St. Joseph and Bondville, IL residents and re-sells water to six other Illinois towns and water districts, previously won the Illinois Section AWWA tasting competition. In a taste-off between four of the nine competing utilities, Illinois American remained the undefeated "Best of the Best" champion.
Illinois American Water Champaign District represented AWWA's Illinois section at the taste test. The other section winners who competed: Pasco County Utilities, Autumn Oaks, representing the Florida Section; City of Blythe Water Department, representing the Georgia Section; Department of Water, County of Kauai, Hawaii Section; M.H.O.G. Water Authority, Michigan Section; Public Works Commission, City of Fayetteville, North Carolina Section, City of Salem (OR) Public Works, Pacific Northwest Section; South Toledo Bend (LA) Water District, Southwest Section; and San Antonio Water System, Texas Section.
An esteemed judging panel rated each water system on their flavor characteristics. Judges included Ed Tejerina, a San Francisco Express-News columnist; Marcia Torobin from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and Andrew Whelton from Virginia Tech. A close competition decided by very few points, the judges agreed that the Illinois America water clean, a high-quality water.
Established in 1881, AWWA (www.awwa.org) celebrates its 125th anniversary as the oldest and largest nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to safe water in North America. AWWA has over 57,000 members worldwide and its 4,700 utility members serve 80 percent of America's population.
Also see:
-- "Renowned sidewalk chalk artist showcases water infrastructure at AWWA"
-- "EPA Administrator to address water infrastructure, efficiency at ACE06 Opening General Session"
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