Aumsville taps top-tasting water in Oregon

They’re toasting the town with a glass of cool, clear, refreshing water in Aumsville today.

The celebration on tap is attributed to the town taking “The Best Tasting Water in Oregon,” awarded through the Oregon Association of Water/Wastewater Utilities.

Sources at OAWU, an independent association of water and wastewater utilities, confirmed on Monday that the nonprofit held the contest over this past weekend during its annual conference. A neutral panel judged ground water and surface water based on clarity, smell and taste. Aumsville’s water won the “Best Tasting Groundwater” and “Best Drinking Water Overall.”

OAWU will send the “Best Drinking Water Overall” to a nationwide drinking water contest in Washington, D.C., putting Aumsville on a national stage.

Aumsville Public Works Director Steve Oslie attributes the awards to the recently-installed water filtration system.

Oslie noted that after years of complaints from citizens about the taste and odor of the water -- and unsuccessful efforts to improve the water quality -- the city decided to postpone other maintenance projects and make the filtration system a top priority. The system was designed by 4B Engineering and Cascade Water Works installed the equipment.

Oslie said the filter has been on-line since Jan. 5, and although some adjustments are forthcoming, early results indicate it was well worth the effort to complete the project ahead of schedule.

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