For the second consecutive year, the City of Charlottetown’s Water & Sewer Utility has been crowned “Best of the Best” in the Tap Water Taste Test Regional Competition at the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association’s (ACWWA) Annual Conference.
The competition was held during the ACWWA’s annual conference in Fredericton, New Brunswick, from September 22-25. It brought together municipalities from across Atlantic Canada to have water samples tested and judged by a panel of experts based on appearance, odour, taste, and overall impression.
The panel included prominent figures such as Paul Rush, deputy commissioner for New York City’s Bureau of Water Supply; Tracy Ekola, P.Eng., vice president of Brown and Caldwell and a member of the Water Environment Federation’s Board of Trustees; and Robert Haller, executive director of the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association.
In addition to highlighting the city’s drinking water quality, Charlottetown’s Director of Community Services, Richard MacEwen, was honoured with the Ira P. MacNab Award at the conference for outstanding service to the water industry in Atlantic Canada.
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
The latest environmental engineering news direct to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
“I’m thrilled that Charlottetown’s water has once again been recognized as the ‘Best of the Best’ in Atlantic Canada,” announced Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown. “This award, along with Richard MacEwen’s well-deserved Ira P. MacNab Award, is a testament to the exceptional work being done by Charlottetown Water and Sewer Utility to provide our residents with top-quality water.”
As the regional winner, Charlottetown will have another chance to compete in the North American “Best of the Best” competition at the American Water Works Association Conference in Denver, Colorado in 2025. Charlottetown previously won the 2024 North American competition, held in Anaheim, California.
“It’s a great honour for our community to be recognized for having the best-tasting tap water in Atlantic Canada two years in a row,” said Councillor Bob Doiron, Chair of the Water and Sewer Committee. “This win speaks to the dedication of our Water and Sewer Utility staff, and we’re excited to represent Charlottetown on the international stage again next year.”
Saint John Water secured third place at the taste-testing competition thanks its Loch Lomond Drinking Water Treatment Facility, a previous winner in the event.
In total, 11 entries from ten municipalities were judged based on appearance, odour, taste, and overall impression. Saint John Water’s Loch Lomond Drinking Water Treatment Facility, which began distribution in 2018 as part of the Safe, Clean Drinking Water Project, serves over 13,000 customers in various parts of the city.
