The City of Bloomington, Minnesota, beat out 20 other utilities to win the 12th annual Best of the Best Tap Water Taste Test at ACE16 held last week in Chicago. The competition, sponsored by Avista Technologies, was composed of regional winners from water-tasting competitions across North America.

The City of Bloomington utilities employs more than 50 people to run the water treatment plant, do field maintenance, serve customers and administer the area. The division serves about 85,000 residents. 

Second place went to the City of Iola, Kansas, and third place was the Village of Canajoharie, New York. A judging panel rated each water system on its flavor characteristics. Judges included Monique Durand, engineer with Hazen and Sawyer P.C.; Cliff Shrive, senior principal with Stantec Consulting; and Dave Walker, co-founder and CEO of Avista Technologies.

Previous competition winners are Big Sky, Montana (2015), Boston Water and Sewer Commission (2014), Oklahoma City Water and Wastewater Utility (2007 and 2013), Fremont, Nebraska (2012), Greenville, South Carolina (2011), Stevens Point, Wisconsin (2010), Macon (Georgia) Water Authority (2009), Louisville (Kentucky) Water Company (2008), and Illinois American Water, Champaign District (2006 and 2005).

ACE16 brought an estimated 12,000 water experts to Chicago. It is the longest running water conference in the world, having first convened in 1881. The event features several hundred expert presentations and an exposition of more than 500 companies showcasing the latest innovations in water technology.