Woolpunda takes out top gong in state water taste test

Water produced from SA Water's Woolpunda Water Treatment Plant has been awarded 'best tasting tap water in South Australia' at the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) annual competition.

The event was held today in Murray Bridge, and is a pre-cursor to the national heats in October.

Woolpunda was one of 14 samples from across the state judged by a panel of water industry experts and interested community members.

SA Water’s Morgan Water Treatment Coordinator James Gorman said the victory is bitter sweet, as the Morgan water treatment team was hoping for a 'three-peat', after taking home the state title the past two years.

"However, there's nothing wrong with a bit of friendly rivalry between the two Riverland teams, and it's a definitely a deserved win for Woolpunda!" James said.

"Producing safe, clean and good tasting water is just part of our job, but it's always nice to be recognised for the hard work that goes into getting that quality product to people's homes and businesses."

SA Water samples entered into today's competition were taken from water treatment facilities at Morgan and Woolpunda in the Riverland, and Happy Valley and Anstey Hill in Adelaide’s south and north-east respectively.

Woolpunda will compete for Australia’s best tasting tap water in October as part of National Water Week, in the home of last year’s winner – Mount Kynock in Queensland.

The winner of the national competition will then go on to represent Australia in the international competition held in the United States in early 2019.

"After our Morgan sample missed out on the national title the past two years, we'll be heading to Queensland later this year more determined than ever to secure the crown for South Australia," James said.

WIOA Chief Operations Officer Craig Mathisen said today’s competition in Murray Bridge was a great success.

"We achieved our aims of showcasing South Australia’s drinking water, acknowledging the somewhat unsung work of water operators, and getting people talking about tap water," Craig said.

The one person-operated Woolpunda Water Treatment Plant has been producing water since 2009 and was built as part of SA Water's Country Water Quality Improvement Program.

It sources and treats raw water from the River Murray, before it's delivered to towns including Woolpunda, Wunkar, Mantung and Cadell, as well as country lands located up to 50 kilometres from the treatment plant.

On average, around 700,000 litres of water goes through the plant every day.

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