MSWD Wins Bronze at 35th Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting
MSWD Water Production Operator Adam Wagner draws water from an MSWD well in preparation for the 2025 Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting. (Photo courtesy of MSWD)
BERKELEY SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA — The Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting, the world’s most prestigious, awarded Mission Springs Water District a Bronze Medal on Saturday, bringing the District’s total medal count to 11 since it first entered the annual contest in 1997. Award winners represented three out of the four continents that had submitted among over 80 entries.
The Municipal Water Category saw a US sweep, from the West Coast to the East Coast and in between, including three previous gold medal winners. Emporia, KS took home their second Gold Medal. The silver medal was won by hometown favorite, Berkeley Springs, WV, and Bronze went to Mission Springs Water District, Desert Hot Springs, CA. Respectively Fourth place went to Southwest Water Authority, Dickinson, ND, and tied for fifth place, just one single point behind, was Piedmont, WV and City of Santa Ana.
The ten judges included The WV Food Guy, representatives from Academic Travel Abroad and Insider’s Guide to Spas, as well as various regional and national media including newspapers, websites, blogs, and online and print magazines. They were trained by von Wiesenberger to look, sniff and taste each water under guidelines similar to those in wine tasting. The waters were rated for each attribute including appearance (it should be clear – or slightly opaque for glacial waters), aroma (there should be none), taste (it should taste clean), mouth feel (it should feel light), aftertaste (it should leave you thirsty for more).
“The consistency in winners from year to year with different panels of judges validates the choices,” remarked esteemed watermaster, Arthur von Wiesenberger. “It also speaks to the impressively high caliber of the waters entered.”
“We take great pride in our water and the District’s efforts to provide, protect, and preserve this vital resource, having earned the most medals among municipal participants, including the title of Best in the World in 2020,” said Assistant General Manager Marion Champion.
For more Information about MSWD’s award-winning water, please visit mswd.org/awards.
Image Sources
- Glass of water: City of Coachella
