Liquid gold: SA Water vies for states top tap water prize

SA Water is once again battling it out for the prestigious title of South Australia’s best tasting tap water in this month’s Ixom Best Tasting Tap Water competition, with water from an outback desalination plant among those in contention.

The annual competition, hosted by the Water Industry Operations Association of Australia (WIOA), judges water supplied by treatment plants across the state on their colour, clarity, odour and taste.

This year, SA Water has submitted samples from several of its metropolitan and regional water plants including Happy Valley, Hope Valley, Anstey Hill, Little Para, Barossa, Morgan and Oodnadatta, with this year being the inaugural entry for the two-year-old Oodnadatta Desalination Plant.

TRILITY, who operate several of SA Water’s regional treatment plants, have also submitted samples from Remark, Berri, Loxton, Barmera, Waikerie, Swan Reach, Mannum, Tailem Bend, Murray Bridge and Summi

SA Water’s Senior Manager of Production and Treatment Paul Bendotti said SA Water takes pride in providing safe and clean drinking water to South Australians from various sources including 16 metropolitan and regional reservoirs, seawater via 3 desalination plants, the River Murray and a range of groundwater sources.

“Each year, together with our partners, we provide 277 billion litres of high-quality drinking water to more than 1.8 million people. This competition is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the hard work of dedicated water treatment operators who fulfill such an important role,” Paul said.

“We’re particularly excited to have the Oodnadatta Desalination Plant included in this years’ competition, following its completion in July 2023. Sourcing water from the Great Artesian Basin, the small-scale reverse osmosis plant produces up to 210,0000 litres of safe and clean drinking water to local customers each day.”

SA Water has proven to be strong contenders in previous years’ competitions, having taken out the title twice since 2020. Past SA Water winners include the Anstey Hill Water Treatment Plant in Adelaide’s north-east, operated together with SUEZ, and Woolpunda Water Treatment Plant in the Riverland.

TRILITY, another valued partner for SA Water, also achieved past success with the Murray Bridge Water Treatment Plant, which supplies water to around 19,000 homes and businesses.

WIOA Manager of Membership, Sponsor and Exhibitor Support Glenn Alford said the competition is an exciting opportunity to raise awareness of the quality of drinking water and celebrate individuals and organisations who provide water services across Australia.

“WIOA recognises the dedication of front-line workers who provide water services to our communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a week. We look forward to awarding South Australia’s winner at WIOA’s South Australia Conference and Exhibition,” Glenn said.

The award for South Australia’s best tasting tap water will be judged and presented at the Holdfast Bay Bowls Club on Thursday 18 September. The winner of the state event will then go on to battle other state winners in the national final in Queensland in December.

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