Isaac Regional Council’s Clermont Water Treatment Plant has been named Queensland’s best tasting tap water for 2026.
The winner was announced at the IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water competition during the Water Industry Operations Association of Australia (WIOA) Conference in Gold Coast, Queensland.
“I’d like to say thanks to the team. You can’t win the Best Tasting Tap Water competition without a great team behind you,” said Stephen Wagner, Isaac Regional Council’s Manager of Water and Wastewater Maintenance and Operations.
Water utilities from across Queensland submitted samples of their drinking water, each reflecting the performance of treatment processes, network management and operational discipline. While the competition carries a light-hearted edge, it also provides a meaningful benchmark for water quality across the state.
Judging took place at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre as part of the annual WIOA conference, where entries were assessed on clarity, odour and taste through a blind testing process.
A longstanding feature of the WIOA conference, the IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water competition offers a rare opportunity to spotlight an essential service that is often taken for granted.
Behind each entry is a balance of source water management, treatment optimisation and distribution system performance, factors that operators manage daily to maintain compliance and deliver high-quality drinking water.
The competition brings together utilities of all sizes, offering a snapshot of the work undertaken behind the scenes to supply communities with safe and reliable water.
“This competition highlights the dedication and commitment of the operations staff and their water companies that work tirelessly – often in challenging conditions – to provide their communities with safe, high-quality drinking water every day,” said Dean Barnett, WIOA CEO.
“It also shines a spotlight on the vital behind-the-scenes work of this discreet industry, which supports communities every hour of every day.”
While safety and regulatory compliance remain the primary drivers of water treatment, taste also plays an important role in building public confidence. Competitions such as this reinforce the connection between operational excellence and customer experience.
Isaac Regional Council will now represent Queensland at the Australian Best Tasting Tap Water competition later this year.
The 2026 Queensland Water Industry Operations Conference and Exhibition took place from June 24 to 25 in Gold Coast, bringing together water professionals from across the state and beyond to network and reconnect, with hundreds of exhibitors spanning pumps, motors, instrumentation and water treatment solutions.
Learn more about the event here.
