For More Information Contact:
Lance Robertson, 984-4716
Eugene Water & Electric Board

April 17, 2009

Panel of judges rate EWEB water the best in taste test

Eugene’s water has won a local “taste test” sponsored by a national water utility organization.

The American Water Works Association’s Cascade-to-Coast chapter conducted the competition in Springfield on Thursday, convening a panel of judges representing local businesses and organizations to pick the “best tasting” water. The four-judge panel selected the Eugene Water & Electric Board’s water as the best-tasting among the 11 entries from Lane, Linn, Lincoln, Deschutes and Crook counties. The Springfield Utility Board’s water finished second, followed by water from the city of Albany.

EWEB will compete at a statewide taste-test competition in Salem in May. The winner of that competition can enter the national AWWA competition later this year.

Each water utility provided eight samples of water taken from various locations in their respective water systems. The judges were representatives of Dutch Bros. Coffee, Hop Valley Brewery, GSI Water Systems and a player from the University of Oregon women’s basketball team.

EWEB Water Treatment Plant Operator Lonny Sayles said there is spirited competition among public water utilities to claim the “best” water.

“I’m glad we came out on top this year,” Sayles said. “But in reality, all of the water providers in our area have great-tasting water. It just boils down to the individual preference of the judges. This year we’re number one; next year it might be someone else.”