CEDAR RAPIDS — When it comes to drinking water, several Iowa communities have high-quality H2O, says a panel of celebrity judges.
But Keokuk’s water emerged at the top of a sample of seven Iowa cities’ drinking water.
The Iowa chapter of the American Water Works Association held a blind taste test Wednesday at the Double Tree convention complex to determine which Iowa community offers the best-tasting drinking water. Cedar Rapids was this year’s host city.
The entries were judged on appearance, odor, taste and aftertaste by a panel of local media personalities, special guests and a host city representative. This event was part of the association’s annual conference.
In addition to Keokuk Municipal Waterworks, the defending champion, entries were received from Cedar Falls Utilities, the cities of Ames and Cedar Rapids, Des Moines Water Works, Iowa Lakes Regional Water and West Des Moines Water Works.
Cedar Rapids has won the Best-Tasting Drinking Water in Iowa award in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
The four judges noted subtle differences, particularly in the odor of the water.
But Rebecca Kopelman, morning meteorologist at Iowa’s News Now, said the water samples also all had something in common: “They are all wet.”
Kopelman said she previously has judged a chili contest where she tasted 23 different samples, so taste-testing water was a much easier feat by comparison.
As Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart drank the different water samples, he said he was “still waiting to figure out how I'm supposed to cleanse my palate,” to which city Utilities Director Roy Hesemann joked about giving the judges some wine as a palate cleanser.
A tough call was ahead for the city’s top elected official: “There’s a little pressure as mayor of Cedar Rapids to pick the right one,” Hart said.
Chelsea Reppin, business development manager for the international not-for-profit Water for People, has judged past contests and said this year’s samples were “absolutely so much better — really 10 out of 10.”
Clare Duffy, co-host of the Morning Scramble on Z102.9, said, “I’m finding appearance overall stunning — beautiful, beautiful water.”
After the judges finished the last drops of their water samples, Reppin suggested that future contests add density to the judging criteria to factor in how the water feels.
Hart, with the diplomacy only a mayoral judge could muster, said the great thing about the samples was that they all were good.
“All these samples are really, really good water and that's a tribute to all of you and to the state of Iowa, and so we're all lucky,” Hart said. “There was nothing that was troubling to drink here. (It was) all good to drink.”
Hesemann also was honored with the George Warren Fuller Award during the association’s annual conference.
This award honors individuals who demonstrate distinguished service to the water supply field in recognition of the engineering skill, diplomatic talent and constructive leadership that characterized the life of George Warren Fuller, an engineer responsible for important water and wastewater treatment innovations during the turn of the 20th century.
Keokuk wins Best-Tasting Water in Iowa contest
A panel of four local judges sampled seven Iowa cities’ drinking water and Keokuk’s sample was identified as the best.
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