IT was Blue all the way with Port Macquarie taking top position on the podium at the the annual IXOM Water of Origin competition.
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It was state against state in the fun event hosted by the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOAA) with the Hastings crew turning the taps on Toowoomba to win the title.
NSW won the first IXOM Water of Origin five years ago and have finally returned the title south of the border.
Port Macquarie, NSW and Toowoomba, Queensland were the two state winners in the WIOAA best tasting tap water competition.
As a preliminary, and tongue-in-cheek battle in the lead-up to the national finals, both teams went head to head on June 6 in the Water of Origin competition.
Judging was held as a part of the Queensland Water Operations Conference and Exhibition in Brisbane.
Over the coming months, water authorities from various regional and metropolitan areas will participate in state heats where water samples will be judged on qualities including colour, clarity, odour and mouth-feel during blind taste tests.
The top drop from each state will battle it out for the top prize during National Water Week in Toowoomba in October.
The winner of the 2018 Best Tasting Tap Water competition will have bragging rights for the next 12 months and will go on to represent Australia at the annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition held in West Virginia, USA.
While the competition itself is all in the spirit of good fun, it recognises the hard work of those who ensure safe, clean drinking water is available every day.
Craig Mathisen, WIOA chief operations officer said there are many complexities involved in delivering high-quality water to our taps each day.
“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,” he said.
“Many of us turn on taps for a drink, to cook and 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.”
