The Collier County Water Division produces the best tasting water in Southwest Florida, according to a panel of judges at the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association’s (FSAWWA) Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest – Region V.

Collier County’s drinking water was chosen as the best on March 14, 2019, during a blind taste test from among samples submitted by water utilities from Collier, Lee and Hendry counties. Water samples are judged on taste, color, and aroma. The Best Tasting Drinking Water Champion receives an award and retains bragging rights as the best tasting drinking water in the three-county region. The next step is participation in the state-wide contest being held at the Florida Water Resources Conference April 14-17, 2019, in Tampa.

This is not the first time Collier County’s water has won this award. Collier County’s water was the “Best Tasting Water” of the FSAWWA – Region V in 2012 and 2015 and won the state competition and placed fourth nationally in 2012.

“We are pleased that Collier County’s water has been judged as the best tasting in the region,” said Public Utilities Department Head Dr. George Yilmaz. “This honor is an outstanding achievement for our utility team members, both those in the field and those working in our regional water treatment plants.”

For more information, contact public information coordinator Margie Hapke at (239) 252-2679 or Margie.Hapke@CollierCountyFl.gov.