BHP’s Olympic Dam desal plant has been crowned as the producer of South Australia’s best-tasting tap water for 2023. The competition, organized by the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) in collaboration with Ixom, saw BHP’s plant competing against Trility’s Loxton Water Treatment Plant and Trility’s Summit Water Storage in a closely contested grand final at the Murray Bridge Racing Club.
The judging criteria included analyzing the water’s color, clarity, odor, and taste in a blind test. To ensure unbiased results, judges used ground coffee to cleanse their palates between tastings and rated each water sample based on the official Water Tasting Wheel.
WIOA Managing Director George Wall emphasized the significance of the competition in raising awareness about the quality of drinking water in Australia and acknowledging the efforts of local water service providers. The aim is to highlight the crucial role these individuals and organizations play in ensuring communities have access to safe drinking water, particularly in challenging circumstances.
The annual competition is held in each state, with winners from state-level competitions advancing to a national contest to determine Australia’s best tap water. The national champion will then represent the country at the prestigious Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition in West Virginia, USA.
Victoria, the host of last year’s national competition, has been recognized for producing the winning sample from Melbourne Water’s Cresswell Water Treatment Plant in Healesville. Australia has consistently performed well in the international competition, with its water supplies frequently ranking among the top five in the municipal category.
Commenting on Australia’s success in the global arena, Wall noted that the country not only boasts safe water supplies but also some of the best-tasting water worldwide. The gold medal in the 2021 international competition was awarded to water from Rossarden in Tasmania, underscoring Australia’s reputation for quality drinking water.
With the upcoming national competition scheduled for November, the spotlight will once again be on Australia’s tap water quality and the industry’s ongoing commitment to delivering safe and delicious water to communities across the country. As the quest for the best-tasting tap water continues, the competition serves as a platform to showcase and celebrate the dedication of water professionals in safeguarding Australia’s water future.
As the journey from state-level competitions to the global stage unfolds, the pursuit of excellence in tap water quality remains a driving force for water service providers and industry stakeholders. The accolades garnered by Australian water samples in international competitions underscore the nation’s commitment to delivering not only safe but also flavorful tap water to consumers.
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