Mayor Jake Day is pleased to announce that the City’s drinking water, which was awarded Best Tasting Water in Maryland by the Maryland Rural Water Association, will compete for the title of Best Tasting Water in America at the National Rural Water Association’s “Great American Water Taste Test” competition on February 10th, in Washington, D.C.
Every year, state affiliates of the National Rural Water Association hold local contests to select a state- level winner. A gallon of each state’s winning water is then sent for judging as part of the NRWA’s annual Rural Water Rally. A round of tasting is held, and a panel of judges selects five finalists. The final five samples are judged by a V.I.P panel at the Rural Water Luncheon on the final day of the rally. Entries are judged on clarity, bouquet, and taste.
Salisbury’s water brought home the Best in Maryland trophy last May. Judges for the “Toasting the Tap” competition evaluated samples from around the state, grading each on taste, appearance, and odor. Salisbury’s winning sample was collected from the Paleo Water Treatment Plant on Scenic Drive.
Salisbury has 11 wells which draw from the shallow unconfined Coastal Plain aquifer. The City’s water treatment process includes aeration, pre-chlorination, filtration, iron removal, disinfection, corrosion control, and fluoride addition. Last year the City produced over 2 Billion gallons of clean, drinkable, delicious water.
2015 marks the third time Salisbury’s water has been recognized as the Best in Maryland, having previously taken the trophy in both 2008 and 2009.