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Avilla among top tasting water in U.S. again
by Julie Scher
If you’re looking for the some of the best tasting water in the nation, move to the town of Avilla, Indiana. In this rural community, all you have to do is turn the faucet for pure “Quality On Tap!”
Avilla placed in the top five in the nation for the second time in the last two years. This year’s accomplishment was broadcast nationally on CNN.
Avilla, water utility personnel and superintendent of utilities, Don Papai (center), stands with Alliance of Indiana Rural Water staff and NRWA President Rodney Tart and NRWA Board Member Phil Bastin of Indiana. See story on p. 1 of the NooZ, inside. (AvilLaOtto NooZ photo provided)
“I’m happy to announce we’re still in the top five in the U.S., and only two made it to there again this year,” said Don Papai, Avilla superintendent of utilities.
For the second year in a row Avilla was one of the top five finalists at the 9th Annual Great American Water Taste Test. The taste test is held each year on Capitol Hill in conjunction with the National Rural Water Association’s Annual Rally in Washington, D.C.
“It’s hard to ruin a good thing. Our water comes out of the ground naturally good. We filter it through a multimedia filter and only have to add the minimum amount of chlorine. Our water has natural flouride,” added Papai. “We’re very fortunate.”
He added that the old caste iron water mains in town enhance the flavor of the town’s water with a subtle mineral taste.
“If it wasn’t for our fine employees, we couldn’t provide such good water to the town,” Papai said. Water employees are Tom Vice and Jonathan Castro.
NRWA represents over 26,292 rural and small utilities so it is quite a big deal to make it to the final competition where Avilla competed against the top water systems from across America. The town finished in the top five with the winner being Southampton, Massachusetts.
Each judge evaluated glasses of water from the five finalists measuring them on clarity, bouquet and taste.
The other finalists included North Kingstown, Rhode Island; Lewes, Delaware; and Rural Lorain County, Ohio. State Rural Water Associations conduct preliminary competitions selecting the best water from small and rural systems to represent their state at the national finals.
Every April, the National Rural Water Association sponsors the Rural Water Rally and Great American Taste Test on Capitol Hill to give utility and state officials an opportunity to visit one-on-one with their Congressional representatives and discuss key water and wastewater issues.
“I’d like to thank the town council for allowing us to participate in the contest,” said Papai.
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