The Huon Valley’s Rocky Creek water supply has come within one point of being named Australia’s best tasting tap water.
Rocky Creek finished runner-up to Queensland’s Isaac Regional Council in the Water Industry Operations Association of Australia’s national competition.
The supply earned its place in the final by winning Tasmania’s IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water Competition in August. It was the second year in a row Rocky Creek had taken the state title.
Entries are judged in a blind tasting for colour, clarity, odour and taste using the industry’s Water Tasting Wheel.
TasWater General Manager Operations Brendan Windmeyer said the close result was a proud moment for the people behind the Rocky Creek supply.
“One point! It’s hard to get much closer than that,” he said.
“Rocky Creek has gone up against the best tap water from across Australia and shown just how good our water tastes.”
Windmeyer said Tasmanians often overlooked the quality of their water.
“We often take our drinking water for granted in Tasmania, but this recognition confirms what many locals already know – we have some of the best tasting water in the country,” he said.
“Our catchments give us a wonderful starting point, but it takes skilled operators, scientists and engineers working every day to turn that into safe, reliable drinking water for our customers.”
Tasmania has a strong record in the competition. In 2023, the Fern Tree treatment plant in the foothills of kunanyi/Mount Wellington won both the state and national titles.
It was the third time in eight years a Tasmanian supply had been named the country’s best tasting tap water.
The national champion earns the chance to represent Australia at the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting competition in the United States.
“Most of us turn on the tap without giving it a second thought,” Windmeyer said.
“This is a chance to celebrate both the quality of the water we enjoy and the people who make sure it’s there when we need it.”
TasWater said it carries out more than 330,000 water quality tests each year to make sure the drinking water it supplies stays safe and reliable.
