WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Maryland 20707-5902. (301) 206-8100. Fax:(301) 206-8186. E-Mail:communications@wsscwater.com

WSSC Wins Drinking Water Taste Contest

Commission Judged to Have Best-Tasting Treated Surface Water in Chesapeake Section of American Water Works Association

LAUREL (June 9, 2009): It’s all in the taste. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is pleased to announce it recently won a drinking water taste contest held by the Chesapeake Section of the American Water Works Association (CSAWWA). WSSC’s treated surface water sample beat out three other entries from the Chesapeake Section, which covers Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia.

Surface water is defined as water on the land surface. It may be running, as such in rivers or streams, or quiescent such as in lakes, reservoirs and ponds. It is produced from runoff from precipitation and natural groundwater seepage. WSSC’s winning treated surface water sample came from its Patuxent Water Filtration Plant in Laurel.

The contest’s six judges were randomly selected from participants at the CSAWWA’s Spring Meeting held in mid-May. The contest’s entries were blindly sampled and scored in five areas:

• Appearance. Judges held the entries up to a light. Good water is clear and bright and shows no floating particles.
• Odor. Judges sniffed the entries in the glass. Highest scores are given to those waters with no odor. It is here that most tap waters loose points as clouds of chlorine assault nostrils. Hopefully, you never experience either septic or guppy water: unpleasant odors caused by algae in the source.
• Flavor. Judges sipped of the water and rolled it around in their mouths, letting it flow over the tongue where most taste buds are. Chemical, greasy or artificial taste loses points.
• Mouth Feel. As the judges swirled or expectorated the water, they noted how their mouth felt. A clean edge is desirable with a fresh and light texture; nothing flabby, cloying, musty or squeaky.
• Aftertaste. After judges swallowed or expectorated the water, they noticed the sensation that remained. Tastelessness is important. Thirst-quenching and clean are sought-after qualities. Great water should make your mouth feel better.

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Established in 1918, today WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, with a network of more than 5,500 miles of fresh water pipeline and nearly 5,400 miles of sewer pipeline. Serving 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, our drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards.