By Rich Anderson
July 4, 2011

Seventy-three cities competed in the 2011 National City Water Taste Test Competition, and five cities advanced to the third and final Round of competition at the 79th Annual Meeting of the Conference of Mayors in Baltimore. Mayors from across the nation participated over a three-day period as judges in a blind taste test. Nearly 100 mayors sampled and voted on city drinking water from Albany (NY), Denton (TX), Pembroke Pines (FL), Racine (WI), and, Rochester (NY). The tally of votes from the mayors was, in the end, very close. Racine beat out the other four cities and claims the bragging rights as the “Best Tasting City Water in America.” Racine (WI) Mayor John Dickert said, “This award recognizes and affirms the hard work and dedication Racine has to always provide the best to our residents and the world.” Lendel Jones, Director of Government Affairs for American Water, the sole corporate sponsor of the competition stated, “I am honored to provide this award on behalf of American Water President and CEO Jeff Sterba. Congratulations to Mayor Dickert and the City of Racine for having the Best Tasting City Water in America.”