Geelong has Victoria’s best tap water, according to the results of a competition now pitting states against each other.
Barwon Water’s win in the Victorian round of the 2019 Best Tasting Tap Water competition demonstrated that local consumers were wasting their money on bottled products, the organisers said.
Barwon Water beat two other Victorian finalists this week to earn the right to represent the state at next month’s national competition, with the winner going on to fight for international honours in America later this year.
Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) said its competition judges based their decisions on qualities including colour, clarity, odour and “mouthfeel” during blind-taste tests.
“Think wine tasting without needing to spit out the samples and you won’t be far wrong,” WIOA said.
“While the competition itself is all in the spirit of good fun there is a meaningful undertone to it, recognising the hard work of those who ensure safe, clean drinking water is available to us, every day.”
WIOA chief operations officer Craig Mathisen said much work went into creating high-quality tap water.
“The competition is a testament to the excellent quality of Australian water and to the diligence and commitment of the operational employees who deliver it to our communities’ day in, day out,” he said.
“Many of us turn on taps for a drink, to cook or shower, with little consideration of what it takes to operate and maintain the water infrastructure.
“We want to celebrate our unsung heroes: the water operators and the maintenance crews who work all year-round to ensure we have high quality water, which is essential to keep us alive.”
