OCWA — Central New York’s Water Authority — recently won the “Best Tasting Drinking Water” in New York state competition held by the American Water Works Association, New York Section (NYSAWWA). OCWA received the award in April at NYSAWWA’s annual event in Saratoga.
The Best Tasting Drinking Water contest involved a panel of judges who blind taste tested and graded each competing utility’s submission from across New York state based on taste, odor, color, clarity, mouthfeel, and aftertaste.
OCWA took first place for its Otisco Lake water and will now advance to a national competition.
The Otisco Lake Water Treatment Plant (WTP), located in Marcellus, treats, tests, and delivers water from Otisco Lake to OCWA customers mostly located in the southern and western half of Onondaga County. Last year, OCWA won the contest for its Lake Ontario water.
“We are honored to win this prestigious competition as it is a credit to all OCWA employees who work hard each day to ensure the communities we serve have clean, fresh, and reliable water to use and drink. It is even more exciting to have won this contest two years in a row,” said OCWA Executive Director Jeff Brown.
Besides the Best Tasting Drinking Water award, NYSAWWA presented OCWA with the 2024 New York State Safety Award for demonstrating outstanding initiative around safety improvement and injury prevention.