FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2021
Jodi Wallin
Public Information Officer
651-266-6308
jodi.wallin@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Saint Paul Regional Water Services Wins “Best in Glass – Minnesota’s Best Drinking Water” Award
Saint Paul, MN -- Saint Paul Regional Water Services was voted the winner of the 2021 “Best in Glass” drinking water taste test at this year’s Annual Conference for the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association (MN AWWA), held in Duluth, Minn.
“Our water is second to none,” said Mara Humphrey, president of the Board of Water Commissioners. “There is a reason that St. Paul has some of the best breweries in the state: We have the best water.”
The “Best in Glass” winner must meet all state or federal drinking water requirements during the previous calendar year to qualify. Entries were evaluated in a two-round process to determine a winner.
In the first round of the “Best in Glass” competition, conference participants chose the top four water samples provided by water utilities across the state. Saint Paul Regional Water Services, along with Rochester Public Utilities, city of Moorhead, and city of St. Peter advanced into the second round of judging.
In the second round, a panel of water industry experts judged the four popular vote winners for taste, color, odor and mouth feel to determine the “Best in Glass” winner. The water was provided in a blind taste-test and served at room temperature, the gold standard in determining water tastes and odors.
Saint Paul Regional Water Services was the unanimous winner amongst the judges.
“The best part of this award is that our customers get to drink the finest tap water in the state every day,” said Patrick Shea, general manager of SPRWS.
“This recognition exemplifies the commitment the 255 employees of SPRWS place in providing excellent drinking water,” said Shea. “Previous and future investments in the water system will ensure the continued delivery of clean and safe tap water for the 452,000 customers of SPRWS.”
Saint Paul Regional Water Services took home the traveling trophy and advances to the Best of the Best water taste test at the 2022 Annual Conference of the American Water Works Association, where it will compete with other section winners from across the country.
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