Henrico's water wins international taste test

The American Water Works Association recently awarded Henrico County its annual "Best of the Best Water Taste Test" award, following multiple rounds of taste-testing from experts in the water industry.

Henrico's water was named the best-tasting of the 26 samples submitted from U.S. and Canadian localities, after those localities won their local AWWA sectional competitions. Only section winners with no violations from their respective health departments in the past year were eligible to enter the national competition.

Judges tasted each sample and evaluated them based on odor, flavor and aftertaste at the association’s annual conference in Denver on June 11. The judges narrowed it down to three localities –Henrico; Taylorsville Bennion Valley, Utah; and the city of Ames, Iowa – before announcing Henrico as the Best of the Best.

“Henrico County and its employees strive every day to provide outstanding services to our residents. The award from the American Water Works Association is an example of that and a credit to the professionalism and dedication of our entire Public Utilities team,” County Manager John A. Vithoulkas said. “This is the standard of public water service that we’re working to ensure for every Henrico resident.”

Henrico’s Department of Public Utilities serves more than 100,000 customers countywide. Roughly two-thirds of these customers receive water from Henrico’s water treatment facility on Three Chopt Road. The other third of customers, largely in central and Eastern Henrico, receive water from the City of Richmond’s water treatment plant. 

The AWWA award recognized water from Henrico’s treatment facility and distribution system.

Henrico Public Utilities officials recently released the department's annual Water Quality Report for 2024, which includes test results from both Henrico and Richmond’s systems. Henrico also regularly tests water at more than 150 locations, ensuring adequate coverage of water from both treatment facilities.