On Saturday 16 November 2024, water samples from across the country will be put to the test – with the winner to be crowned Australia’s best tasting tap water.
The entrants have already proved their mettle as champions of their respective states, but the 2024 national winner will go on to represent Australia at the annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition in West Virginia, USA in February 2025.
The state finalists for the 2024 IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water competition
- Victoria – Yarra Valley Water – Plantes Hill Reservoir, Lilydale, Silvan
- South Australia – BHP – Olympic Dam Desal Plant
- Queensland – Isaac Regional Council – Glenden Scheme
- Tasmania – TasWater – Fern Tree
- Western Australia – Water Corporation – Dalyellup
- New South Wales/ACT – Wingecarribee Shire Council – Wingecarribee
After taking out the national title in 2023 with its Fern Tree sample, TasWater will host the event on its home turf, with the competition set to take place at the JackJumpers Family Day, where attendees will be invited to taste all the water samples and cast a vote for their favourite.
Statewide judging earlier in 2024 once again crowned Fern Tree as the winner of Tasmania’s best tasting tap water. TasWater said that the sample is sourced from rainfall and snowmelt on Mount Wellington, and its pure taste and clarity has long been celebrated by the local community.
TasWater General Manager Operations, Brendan Windmeyer, said TasWater was excited to have the opportunity to host the event and the chance for Tasmania to win the national title for the second year in a row.
“Our purpose is to provide exceptional water and sewerage services for a thriving Tasmania,” Mr Windmeyer said.
“Nothing exemplifies that more than giving our customers confidence that every time they turn on the tap, they are getting the highest quality, best tasting water.
“Winning the national title back-to-back would be a huge claim to fame for the Fern Tree team and our entire workforce, and we can’t wait to see what the national judges think of this year’s entry.”
Mr Windmeyer said the competition was a chance to recognise the hard work of water service operators around the state and their diligence and commitment to delivering consistently safe and great tasting drinking water to their communities.
Despite its track record for excellence, TasWater has to overcome some stiff competition if it wants to take home its second national title.
One of these strong contenders is a sample from Yarra Valley Water’s Plantes Hill Reservoir in Lilydale, which will represent Victoria at the competition.
Yarra Valley Water said that its sample has been celebrated for its exceptional taste, clarity, colour and purity, and the utility aims to showcase that the clean, fresh taste of its tap water rivals bottled water, offering customers both quality and convenience straight from the tap.
Yarra Valley Water Managing Director, Pat McCafferty, expressed excitement about the upcoming finals and highlighted the value for customers.
“We’re thrilled to be delivering the best tap water in Victoria to our customers, and we’re honoured to now have the chance to compete for the national title,” Mr McCafferty said.
“This recognition shows that you don’t need bottled water for a world-class experience – it’s right here on tap, providing high quality, convenience and value for money.”
Melbourne’s tap water is renowned for its purity, which is due in part to its protected catchments. Most of Melbourne’s drinking water comes from pristine reservoirs to the east of the city, where access has been restricted for over a century to keep the water clean.
Yarra Valley Water’s commitment to stringent quality controls means every glass of water meets the highest standards for taste and safety.
“Melbourne is one of the few cities worldwide that draws its tap water from such pristine sources. The natural purity of our catchments means our water requires minimal treatment, and we’re proud to share this high-quality water with our customers,” Mr McCafferty said.
The Victorian-winning sample originates from the Silvan Reservoir, managed by Melbourne Water, before being treated in Lilydale and distributed to Yarra Valley Water customers.
“As we head into the national finals, Yarra Valley Water customers can take pride in knowing they’re drinking water that’s nationally acclaimed for its outstanding quality,” said Mr McCafferty.
Featured image: Yarra Valley Water
