City of Rochester News Release - Rochester’s Water Named the Best in the State

City of Rochester

News Release

(Wednesday, May 2, 2012) – Rochester’s drinking water has been named “New York’s Best Tasting Water” in a statewide competition held by the New York Section of the American Water Works Association (NYSAWWA).

“For 136 years Hemlock Lake has been providing residents of the city of Rochester with high quality and great tasting water,” said Mayor Thomas S. Richards. “It is an honor for our water to be named New York’s Best and to receive this recognition.”

Tap water from Rochester and five other cities across the state competed in a blind taste test at NYSAWWA’s annual conference, which was held in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The water was scored on taste, odor, clarity, color, feel in the mouth and aftertaste by a panel of judges.

Rochester received a total average score of 26.6, out of a possible 30 points. United Water of New Rochelle came in second with 26.4 and the City of Canandaigua tied for third place with Monroe County Water Authority’s Shoremont Water Treatment Plant with scores of 26.2.

The majority of Rochester’s water supply originates in Hemlock and Canadice Lakes in the Finger Lakes. These lakes are maintained in a pristine and forever wild condition with undeveloped shorelines. The water is treated and delivered by gravity through a series of conduits and reservoirs to customers in Rochester.

The City will move on to compete for a national title at the AWWA’s national conference in June.

The New York Section of the American Water Works Association provides professional development and training, technical resources and advocacy to the Section’s more than 2,000 members.

-30-

News Media: For more information, contact Paul Holahan, Environmental Services Commissioner, at 428-6855, or Robert Morrison, Bureau of Water Director, at 428-6782.