Emporia Public Works Director Dean Grant says the city’s second gold medal in the Berkeley Springs water competition is something all city residents should be proud of.
The city uses ozone as a disinfectant, with chlorine and ammonia added late in the treatment process. Emporia was the first city in Kansas to use ozone as a treatment chemical, but it also helps with taste and odors as well.
Grant credited Water Treatment Plant Manager Jack Mason and the staff for their work, especially with nearly daily treatment adjustments based on the quality of water coming in from the Neosho River. He also says Emporia faced rather stiff competition from across the globe.
Experts judge the Municipal Water category based on aroma, taste, aftertaste, clarity and “mouthfeel.”
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia’s tap water finished second in Municipal Water, while Mission Springs Water District of Desert Hot Springs, California, took third.
Emporia won gold at Berkeley Springs in 2013, its first time entering in the contest. It has also finished second (2017), third (2024) and tied for fourth (2023).
9 am Sunday: Emporia drinking water takes gold at Berkeley Springs international competition
For the second time, the city of Emporia’s drinking water has been listed as best in the world.
Emporia got a gold medal in Municipal Water from the prestigious water tasting contest held in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. This follows Emporia’s gold medal in 2013 and several other top finishes, including silver in 2017, bronze last year and a fourth-place tie in 2023.
The Berkeley Springs contest this year had over 80 entries from four continents. Berkeley Springs’ tap water finished second in Municipal Water, while Mission Springs Water District of Desert Hot Springs, California, took third. Experts judge the Municipal Water category based on aroma, aftertaste, clarity, “mouthfeel” and taste.
Emporia’s water has also won the Kansas Rural Water Association contest several times since 2003 and won the Kansas Water Environment Association and Kansas Section of the American Water Works Association in 2007, 2012 and 2022.
Public Works Director Dean Grant and City Communications Manager Christine Torrens will be part of KVOE’s Newsmaker 2 segment at 8:20 am Monday to talk about the honor and other city matters.
