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Centerville Has Best Water in Missouri

The best drinking water in Missouri is in Reynolds County. Centerville won top drinking waters in the state during competitioin last week.

The Missouri Rural Water Association (MRWA) held its annual Open House, Wednesday, April 25. Each year during this event, MRWA holds judging to select Missouri’s Best Tasting Water, the Missouri portion of The Great American Water Taste Test. A total of 30 water samples were submitted by water districts and municipalities throughout the state for this year’s competition. Preliminary judging was held in early April narrowing the field to 2018’s Final Four:  City of Bunker, City of Puxico, City of Centerville, and Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. 1 of Boone County. The finalists for the competition submit new tasting samples and are judged in three categories: Clarity, Bouquet, and Taste. Judges for this year’s event were Amy Dati, Community Programs Specialist, USDA Rural Development; Lyn Woolford, City Administrator/Police Chief, City of Ashland; and David Lamb, Public Drinking Water Branch Chief, Missouri Department of Natural Resources. 

The City of Centerville was selected as the winner Missouri’s Best Tasting Water of 2018. The county seat of Reynolds County, Centerville is located along the West Fork of Black River in southeast Missouri. Along with bragging rights and title of Missouri’s Best Tasting Water of 2018, the system will receive a luncheon provided by MRWA. This is an opportunity for the city council, city clerk, and water specialist to celebrate the win and receive the trophy awarded for the accomplishment.

Additionally, MRWA will fly a representative of the City of Centerville, along with a water sample, to Washington D.C. in early February 2019 for the National Rural Water Association’s (NRWA) Rural Water Rally. At this event, they will submit their sample for competition at the national level of the Great American Water Taste Test.

In recent history, Missouri has placed third twice but has yet to win first place at the national level. MRWA’s hopes are that Centerville’s contribution can bring home the trophy and title of Best Tasting Water in America to the Show-Me-State while showing the rest of the country how exceptionally good their water tastes.

MRWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the needs of Missouri water and wastewater systems. MRWA’s mission is to be the leading source of professional services, support, and representation for Missouri water and wastewater utilities.

To connect with MRWA, visit their website www.moruralwater.org, like them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter @MoRuralWater.

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