Public Water Supply District No. 2, which serves the High Ridge and Murphy area, recently won the Missouri Rural Water Association’s Best Tasting Water award.
The water district competed alongside districts across the state in the Show-Me Tap Water Round-Up, which compared the taste and quality of water from each district.
Richard Benner Jr., board president for PWSD No. 2, said it was especially impressive that the water district won the award, considering most districts source their water from groundwater wells whereas No. 2 supplies its water from the Big River.
He said more treatment steps are necessary for supplying surface water compared to a well.
“I credit the people in our water plant for their due diligence,” Benner said. “We have people there 24 hours, working all the time. They keep constant track of the river’s ups and downs. They’re the people who deserve the big pat on the back.”
In the finals, PWSD No. 2 competed against the cities of Steelville, Koshkonong and New Haven, along with the Texas County Public Water Supply District No. 1.
Judges tasted the water from each district based on clarity, “bouquet,” meaning the water is odor-free, and taste.
There are 21 employees and board members in total at PWSD No. 2, Benner said. The district was founded in 1965, he said, and has continued to increase in water quality every year since. It serves about 16,500 people and has nearly 6,500 service connections.
Benner credited Steve Conley, who served as district president for nearly 25 years, with the big win.
He also said water plant manager James “JD” Douglas and distribution manager Art Gilbers deserve credit for the quality of the water produced and distributed.
“I’m proud of our crew,” he said. “I’ve traveled all over the United States, except for Alaska, and I’ve tasted some real bad water, and I’ve tasted some pretty good water. I’m proud of our water. We’re just a small district, a small plant, but we put out over a million gallons a day.”
By winning the statewide Best Tasting Water award, Benner said district employees will now go to Washington, D.C., in February to compete in the National Rural Water Association Rural Water Rally for the best tasting water.