Kelowna defends title

Southern Interior water beat by Chilliwack in tap water taste test 

By John McDonald INFO-TEL Multimedia May 28, 2015 - 4:34 PM

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Waterworks staff in the Okanagan and Kamloops will be drowning their sorrows tonight after losing out to Chilliwack in a tap water taste test which wouldn’t have looked out of place at a winery.

“It’s a clear winner,” joked Tanja McQueen, CEO of the B.C.Water and Waste Association, who hosted the tasting and announced the winner at the Association's annual conference at Prospera Place in Kelowna today, May 28. (more)

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 by Carmen Weld CASTANET - May 27, 2015 / 12:43 pm

One year after taking the title of best tasting tap water in B.C., Kelowna water will once again face the judges – and this time on home turf. The second annual Tap Water Taste Test will take place at the The B.C. Water & Waste Association's annual conference in Kelowna, Thursday. Last year’s reigning “Best of the Best” challenge winner, Kelowna, will go head to head with other municipal and regional district entries vying for bragging rights to the top tap offering.Just like last year's event in Whistler, a panel of selected “aqualiers” will sample and judge water on stage in front delegates to evaluate the water based on appearance, aroma, taste, mouth feel, aftertaste and overall impression.
This year's judges are:
Paul Bowen, director of sustainable operations at Coca Cola and incoming president of the Water Environment Federation
Gene Koontz, senior vice-president with Gannett Fleming and incoming president of the American Water Works Association
Mark Filatow, executive chef, sommelier and partner of Waterfront Wines and Details Catering
Robert Haller, executive director of the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association
The following 11 communities have entered to take Kelowna on:

City of Kamloops
City of Nelson
City of Kelowna
Rutland Waterworks District
City of Penticton
Regional District of North Okanagan
City of Chilliwack
Village of Harrison Hot Springs
Village of Radium Hot Springs
District of Squamish
Clearbrook Water District