It’s hard to quantify the value of water. You can price it by the gallon, but it’s a little more difficult to ascertain true value when you start factoring in the health of people, plants, animals and the planet at large. One thing is for sure: While it may not carry the price tag of gold, diamonds or rare earth minerals, its value is far greater than all those other things combined.
As of this writing, gold is selling for just over $2,800 per ounce. It took me about eight seconds to determine that price. But what’s the value of a healthy wetland dotted with pitcher plants and lady’s slippers, singing with the high-pitched chorus of spring peepers? These swamps aren’t to be drained; they’re to be preserved and protected, and they are a good indicator of — and a contributor to — overall water quality. Still, it’s difficult to measure.
A heavily polluted lake or river might catch our attention, but to the average person, the most tangible connection (pun fully intended) to water quality is the water that flows from our taps. Even if you live in a landscape of pristine lakes and streams, you might not think so highly of your water quality if turning on the tap brings the smell of sulfur or chlorine, regardless of it being perfectly safe to drink.
There are many indicators of a community’s water quality, but the taste of tap water will be the basis of many people’s opinions.
Across the U.S. and Canada, state and regional water associations hold competitions for the best tasting municipal tap water. Communities like Bloomington, Minnesota; Wichita, Kansas; Appleton, Wisconsin; and Raleigh, North Carolina, should take pride in earning top honors in their states.
Negaunee Township claimed the crown in the American Water Works Association’s Michigan section in 2024. The city of Zephyrhill took the same spot for the Florida section. Chester was the champion in Pennsylvania.
In the AWWA’s overall Tap Water Taste Tests, where the section winners compete for top honors, first-place went to the city of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from the Atlantic Canada Section. Second place went to New Jersey American Water, and third to the Northeast Sammamish Sewer and Water District from Sammamish, Washington.
There are so many utilities are doing great work to protect local resources and bring clean, safe water to the people they serve. It’s good that we honor them, that we place a high value on high-quality water.
I’m looking forward to stopping by the competition and sampling some of your work at AWWA’s ACE25 in Denver next month.
Cheers to you.
Enjoy this month’s issue.
