By George Marodis
Source Water Specialist
Does your utility produce the Best Tasting Water in Alabama? Well, if you did not enter the Alabama Rural Water Associations Water Taste Test Competition held on Tuesday March 18, then we will never know how it would compare against the competition. However, for those 15 utilities that entered the competition one sample of water was chosen as “The Best Tasting Water in Alabama.”
A utility is only eligible to enter the Taste Test competition if they meet ADEM approval having no violations of bacteriological or chemical or monitoring violations. A panel of judges scrutinized the water samples based on Taste, Clarity and Odor.
The winner of the Alabama Rural Water Associations 2015 Water Taste Test is the West Etowah County Water Authority.
Along with bragging rights the winner will receive one round trip ticket to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Water Drinking Water Taste Test in February 2016. The West Etowah County Water Authority currently serves 2,300 households. West Etowah produces water from one well and one spring which produces from the Tuscumbia Lime. In addition West Etowah’s well appears to be producing from the Tuscumbia Limestone aquifer. The utility has seven water storage tanks with a combined storage capacity of 910,000 gallons of water. The authority has 175 miles of main line pipe.
Having the best tasting drinking water in Alabama is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the West Etowah County Water Authority management and staff.
The West Etowah Water Authority is governed by the following board members: Roger Kimbril, Chairman; Steve Jennings, Vice Chairman; Sally Hathcock, Secretary; and Richard Smith, Board Member.
The West Etowah Water Authority office is staffed by the following: Kenny Smith, Superintendent; Jim Mayo, Operator; Sally Hathcock, Office Manager; Barbie Cleveland, Office Staff; Donna Purkey, Office Staff; Stacy Thompson, Office Staff; Barry (Bo) Davenport, Field Maintenance; Bobby Huff, Field Maintenance; Mathew Pierce, Operator; and Nathan Moore, Operator.
