DeKalb Wins Water Taste Test Competition

The City of DeKalb Water Division recently won the Illinois Section American Water Works Association (ISAWWA) District 1 Water Taste Test Competition.

The contest was held on January 26, 2024, in Freeport Illinois. The City of DeKalb competed against other District 1 public water supplies, comprising of cities located in the northwestern part of the state including Rockford, North Park, Rock Island, Moline, and Freeport to name a few. Water was judged based on clarity, taste, and odor.

DeKalb will now advance to compete against other district winners from the state at the annual ISAWWA WATERCON conference held on April 15, in Peoria. The winner of that competition will hold the distinct honor of "Best Tasting Water" in the state. The winner will also be allowed to compete at the national level at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) conference in June, for a chance to be awarded "Best Tasting Water" in the nation.

This award recognizes the hard work that our staff at the DeKalb Water Division put in every day to ensure that the water provided to the citizens of DeKalb is not only safe and reliable, but great tasting as well. The complexities of achieving this can at times be taken for granted.

The DeKalb Water Division is honored to represent the citizens of DeKalb and the other District 1 communities at the upcoming state water tasting competition. We are optimistic we can bring home "First Place" as winner of "Best Tasting Water" in the state.

DeKalb Director of Utilities and Transportation Bryan Faivre (center) was presented with the City's award for taking first place in the Illinois Section American WaterWorks Association District 1 Water Taste Test Competition on Jan. 26 in Freeport. He is joined by representatives of the engineering firm Willett Hofmann & Associates, which sponsored the competition.