Water Taste Test Slated for Capital District
Albany, August 18, 1998 – Six municipalities will square off in the 1998 regional taste test to determine the best drinking water in the Capital District on Wednesday, August 19, at the International Food Festival on the Plaza level (near entrance to the Corning Tower), at the Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The top two finishers in this and four other regional contests scheduled statewide, will compete for statewide honors on September 1, 1998, at the New York State Fair.
This popular, nonscientific competition, is in its 12th year and stresses the importance of clean, safe, healthy, drinking water. It is sponsored by the State Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation.
At the Capital District Taste Off water experts will participate in a blind taste test featuring liquid refreshment from the public water supplies of the City of Albany (Albany County), Clifton Park Water Authority (Saratoga County), Schodack Water District #3 (Maple Crest–Rensselaer County), Staatsburg Water System (Dutchess County), City of Gloversville (Fulton County), and the City of Schenctady (Schenectady County). Each of the six competitors has won a county competition to advance to this stage.
The top two contestants from each of five regional events being held across the state will compete at the State Fair in Syracuse on September 1 to determine the who has the "Best Tasting Water in New York State." The champion will be announced at a special presentation at the Fair and will receive a plaque and the tribute of two official highway signs proclaiming the honor.
More than 150 community water systems were represented this year in competitions that began in May at local county contests during National Drinking Water Week.
Safe, clean, high quality water has been a priority for New York State. Governor Pataki has allocated more than $355 million in low–interest loans and grants to public water suppliers in New York as part of the State's unprecedented Drinking Water Revolving Fund. The Fund, supported by the Governor's 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, will provide more than $1.87 billion during the next decade to protect and improve drinking water for millions of New Yorkers.
"This program has provided the impetus for New York to lead the nation in providing safe drinking water for more than 16 million New Yorkers that rely on nearly 4,000 water suppliers for their daily drinking water," Governor Pataki said.