Orange City Council has claimed bragging rights for Water Industry Operations Association of Australia (WIOA) NSW Conference and Exhibition’s 2015 water taste test, announced at the conference’s gala dinner last night.

Fourteen councils from across the state sent water samples along to the conference for the test, held at PCYC’s Sir Neville Howse Stadium.

The four finalists Orange, Tamworth Regional Council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and last year’s winner Bega Valley Shire Council were chosen after a mass tasting on Wednesday that included officials and conference attendees. 

Yesterday all eyes were on judges IXOM’s Matthew Donohue, Krohne Australia’s Margaritta Carroll, Goulburn Valley Water’s Steve Newham and WIOA board member Tony Hourigan as they tasted the four finalists, scoring the unmarked samples for their appearance, odour and taste.

All four agreed while each sample was of high quality, there was one that stood out from the rest.

“The quality of water that was put forward this year is of quite a high standard, and is definitely better than last year,” Mr Hourigan said.

“While all are good, there is one that is more drinkable,” Mr Donohue said.

Not only is Orange able to claim the best water in the state for the year, the sample from Suma Park Dam will go on to be tasted against the winner from Queensland in a State of Origin-style competition.

Exhibition organiser and WIOA’s chief operating officer Craig Mathisen said the competition was not held just to create friendly rivalry between councils.

“It’s also for the companies and workers at the plants, so they get some recognition too,” Mr Mathisen said. “It’s promoting the role they do every day, providing councils with great water all the time.”