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Otago Daily Times

Tap water title down the drain

PHOTO: ODT FILES Timaru's hopes of winning a coveted transtasman title for the best-tasting tap water went down the drain last week. The Timaru District Council's Seadown water supply went head-to-head with Australia's reigning titleholder, Isaac Regional Council's Glenden scheme from Queensland, but the Australian entry took top (tap?) honours. The showdown, known in the industry as the ''Bledisloe Cup of tap-water tasting'', took place in Newcastle, New South Wales. Timaru earned its place in the transtasman final after taking out New Zealand's national water taste test on May 29 at the Water Industry Operations Group of New Zealand annual conference and awards in Nelson. Municipal water suppliers from across the country were invited to submit samples of their finest drop, with the Seadown plant ultimately crowned this year's national winner. Australia's competition followed a similar process. Water authorities from both regional and metropolitan areas competed in state-based heats, with the winners advancing to the national final. Isaac Regional Council's Glenden scheme emerged as the overall Australian champion. The IXOM-sponsored Transtasman Water Taste Test is a fun way to raise awareness of the quality of drinking water in New Zealand and Australia, and to recognise the efforts of local water operators and their teams to deliver valuable water services to their communities. During judging, water samples are subjected to a blind taste test and rated according to the ''Water tasting wheel''. The wheel outlines some of the attributes water professionals use when assessing water such as colour, clarity, odour and taste. Water industry operations group chairman Joshua McIndoe said many of us turned on taps for a drink, to cook and to shower, with little thought about the complexities involved in operating and maintaining the water infrastructure. "The competition highlights the dedication of individuals and organisations that work tirelessly to provide their communities with safe, high-quality drinking water every day." — Allied Media