Capital Regional District, District of Hope and Town of Qualicum Beach Awarded Best Tasting Tap Water

Three communities won top prize in their division at the 2025 BCWWA Annual Conference & Trade Show.

It is no surprise that high-quality drinking water is renowned across western Canada, from British Columbia to the Yukon. This year, as the BC Water & Waste Association (BCWWA) headed to Victoria for its 53^rd Annual Conference & Trade Show on the theme “One Water, One Future,” a friendly competition was held to determine which municipality, regional district or water supplier earns the title of best-tasting drinking water.

The BCWWA is pleased to announce that three communities won in three divisions: Capital Regional District (Large Water System), District of Hope (Medium Water System) and Town of Qualicum Beach (Small Water System).

New this year, samples were categorized into three divisions in response to feedback from members and water experts and an effort to recognize the full scope of water systems and treatment processes that exist for every size of community.

A panel of guest judges adjudicated the competition: Christine Spitzley, vice president at American Water Works Association (AWWA) and principal at OHM Advisors; Paul Schuler, WEF representative and senior strategic advisor / senior vice president at Carollo Engineers and Robert Haller, executive director at Canadian Water & Wastewater Association (CWWA).

The BCWWA was honoured to welcome City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto to the guest judge panel to evaluate samples based on appearance, aroma, taste, mouth feel, aftertaste, and overall impression. It was a close competition as judges put their senses of sight, smell and taste to work when distinguishing between the different samples.

In all, twelve communities and regions from across the province joined in this year’s competition: Capital Regional District, City of Burnaby, City of Coquitlam, District of Squamish, District of Hope, City of Rossland, Town of Ladysmith, District of Lillooet, Village of McBride, Phantom Creek Estate Winery (Oliver), District of Qualicum Beach and District of Sparwood.

Thank you to the new and returning communities and water providers who competed in this year’s competition! For almost ten years, the BCWWA has hosted its “Best of the Best” Tap Water Taste Test to bring BC and the Yukon water operators together in the spirit of friendly competition to see who has the best tasting water directly from the tap of an end user. The competition helps raise awareness of the importance of our water systems and shines a light on the critical work water operators do to protect public health and the environment.