(Ocean Pines Indpendent)Pocomoke has some of the best-tasting water in the country, judging by its second-place finish in a nationwide taste test of rural water supplies.
In April, Pocomoke City entered the judging at the Maryland Rural Water Association's conference in Ocean City and came away with a new title: purveyors of the best-tasting water in the state. With that award in hand, the town was eligible to enter the national association's competition. According to Mike Phillips, superintendent of water and wastewater, there were at least 25 other utilities entered in the state contest.
There were 33 utilities judged in the first round of the national competition, from which five finalists were chosen. Pocomoke City won the silver medal by coming in second place. The gold went to the Central Iowa Water Association in Newton, Iowa, a non-profit water utility with pipes in 15 counties. A water utility in St. Helens, Ore., took the bronze medal and the runners-up were water-drinkers in Lowry City, Mo., and Stanley, Va.
According to Chris Wilson, a spokesman for the national association, the entries were judged on "clarity, bouquet and overall taste." A panel of three judges was responsible for finding the winners.
Councilman Robert L. Hawkins, first vice president, said that he was "elated" with the news, especially since the town had had complaints in the past. "We have been working hard to get the system squared away," he said. Pocomoke has been "pigging," or cleaning, the lines in the Pocomoke Heights area, at a cost of about $90,000, and Hawkins said the number of complaints has gone down since the project was completed. The sample sent in for the competition, he said, was drawn from a tap in a private home.
Councilman Bruce Morrison, the second vice president, said he was "ecstatic" about the award. "There was a lot of competition," Morrison said. "This shows the staff is doing an excellent job."
City Manager Russell W. Blake said that Pocomoke City is drawing water from a good aquifer. The present water plant is about 15 years old and the town just added a new well this past year.
There are 28,000 utilities in the national association, which holds the Great American Taste Test annually as part of the Rural Water Rally in Washington, D.C. The state associations were formed to give technical assistance to the towns and utilities.
By: Diva's Nation
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