North Marshall Water District has claimed the 2020 title of America’s Best Tasting Drinking Water at the 21st anniversary of the Great American Water Taste Test, held recently in Washington, D.C. as part of the Rural Water Rally.
The Silver Medal was a tie between Mapleturn Utilities of Indiana and Jenkensville Water Company of South Carolina. The Bronze Medal went to California Pines Community Services District located in California. The other finalist in the top five was Auburn Board of Public Works from Nebraska.
These five water systems competed against 37 total entries from across the country. State Rural Water Associations hold their own taste test finals and send the winners to compete at the Great American Water Taste Test.
The finalists are selected in a preliminary round, with the finals judged by a panel of experts. The honorary judging panel this year included Edna Primrose, Assistant Administrator, USDA Rural Development Office of Water & Environment Programs; Diane Nellor, Clerk of the Senate Appropriation Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; and Morgan Ulmer, Clerk of the Senate Appropriation Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies.
Judges rated each water sample based on its clarity, bouquet and taste. Each of the judges commended the quality of water that Rural Water provides and noted the difficulty in choosing the best tasting water in the nation.
Bobby Gifford of North Marshall Water District accepted the Gold Medal Award.
North Marshall Water District serves 5,600 connections.