Queensland’s sample from Isaac Regional Council‘s Glenden Scheme water treatment plant has won the IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water in Australia title for 2024.
The Water Industry Operations Association of Australia (WIOA) facilitated the competition, which announced the winner today at the JackJumpers Family Day in Hobart, Tasmania. WIOA invited attendees to taste all the water samples and vote for the one they preferred most. Approximately 130 people cast their votes to determine the winner.
During 2024, water authorities in regional and metropolitan areas across Australia competed in state competitions to find their best drop. Those state winners were invited to battle it out for the National title, putting interstate rivalry to the ultimate test.
Isaac Regional Council’s Glenden Scheme water treatment plant was competing against:
- Victoria – Yarra Valley Water – Plantes Hill Reservoir, Lilydale, Silvan
- South Australia – BHP – Olympic Dam Desal Plant
- Tasmania – TasWater – Fern Tree
- Western Australia – Water Corporation – Dalyellup
- NSW/ACT – Wingecarribee Shire Council – Wingecarribee
Isaac Regional Council’s Glenden Scheme will have bragging rights for the next 12 months as the provider of Australia’s best drop. It will represent Australia at the annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition in West Virginia, USA, in February 2025.
“Congratulations to Isaac Regional Council on their prestigious win,” said Dean Barnett, Chief Executive Officer, WIOA. “I’d also like to acknowledge all the water providers and operators that work 24/7 to serve their communities.”
How to enter the best-tasting tap water competition
The annual IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water competition is a fun and exciting way to raise awareness of the quality of drinking water in Australia and recognise the efforts of local water service providers in delivering valuable water services to their communities.
In its search for the best-tasting tap water in each state and nationally, WIOA invites all water suppliers to participate in the competition.
Water samples are subjected to a blind taste test and rated according to the Water Tasting Wheel, which outlines some of the attributes water professionals use when judging water, such as colour, clarity, odour and taste. Think of ‘wine tasting’ without needing to spit out the samples, and you won’t be far wrong.
“The competition celebrates the individuals and organisations that strive hard, some in very trying circumstances, to ensure their communities are supplied with safe drinking water every day,” said Dean Barnett, Chief Executive Officer of WIOA. “We want to draw people’s attention to the great work that is going on behind the scenes in their local communities to help shape and secure Australia’s water future.”
Mr Barnett also acknowledged IXOM’s support of the Best Tasting Tap Water competition. “Thanks to IXOM’s unwavering commitment to the industry, we continue to be able to run the competition.”
“IXOM is proud to sponsor the prestigious 2024 IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water competition,” said Bryce Wolfe, IXOM’s Chief Executive Officer. “IXOM is a leading supplier of water treatment chemicals to the water sector. We’ve been a proud local manufacturer for over a century, supplying chemicals to water treatment plants all over Australia to help ensure everyone has access to safe, clean and great-tasting drinking water.”
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