Pictured left to right are: Jason Fryer, TN811; Steve Chappell, CSA; Larry Burger, Athens Utility Board; Crystal Piper, Hamilton Co. Water Quality Program; Anna West, USDA RD
Athens Utility Board was recently announced as the winner of the Region 10 Best Tasting Water Contest conducted by the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts. The contest, held at Eastside Utility District on Wednesday, Feb. 25, marked the second year in a row that Athens Utility Board was named best in the region. Drinking water samples are judged on their clarity, bouquet and taste.
TAUD Region 10 consists of Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Rhea, Sequatchie and Van Buren counties.
In addition to Athens Utility Board, the participating utilities included Hixson Utility District, Ocoee Utility District and Tennessee American Water.
Serving as judges for the competition were Crystal Piper, Hamilton County Water Quality Program; Jason Fryer, Tennessee 811; Steve Chappell, Central Services Association; and Anna West, USDA Rural Development.
TAUD conducts the Best Tasting Water in Tennessee Contest in each of the association’s 11 regions over the next few months. The winner of each region then competes in the statewide competition at TAUD’s Business of Running a Utility Conference at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in Gatlinburg on Aug. 13. The statewide winner will represent TAUD in Washington, D.C. for the Best Tasting Water in America Contest in February 2016.