From left, Kathy Quartermaine; Jenna Hazlet; Buck Owen, Blake Davis and Tim Lawson of Ocoee Utility District, Ashley Richards; and Jennifer Innes
The Ocoee Utility District was awarded as the Best Tasting Water in Region 10. The regional water contest, held by the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts, took place at Eastside Utility District. Drinking water samples were 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 Ocoee Utility District, the other utilities participating in the competition were Big Creek Utility District, City of Dayton, Etowah Utilities, and Hixson Utility District.
Participating as judges for the event were Jenna Hazelet of Servline, Kathy Quartermaine of TN811, Ashley Richards of J.R. Wauford & Co., and Jennifer Innes with the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation.
TAUD will conduct the Best Tasting Water in Tennessee Contest in each of the Association’s 11 regions throughout the upcoming months. The winner of each region will participate in a statewide competition at TAUD’s Business of Running a Utility Conference at the Gatlinburg Convention Center on Aug. 10. The statewide winner will then represent Tennessee in the Great American Taste Test held in conjunction with the National Rural Water Association Rally in Washington D.C. in February 2018.
Founded in 1957, The Tennessee Association of Utility Districts celebrates 60 years in 2017 as the state's first source of training, technical assistance and advocacy for more than 400 water, wastewater, and natural gas utility members throughout Tennessee. For more information, visit www.taud.org.