Just how good is tap water in North America? KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us about a tasting competition in San Diego Tuesday. It's part of a major water industry convention.
Water utilities from around North America will compete in a taste test at the American Water Works Association's annual conference and exposition.
Deirdre Mueller with the Water Works Association says the tasting is serious business with specially-trained experts.
"And our experts actually do a taste test in a way that's very similar to what you would see someone who is doing a wine taste test or something like that," Mueller says. "They actually smell it, and taste it and spit it out and all the stuff that you would normally see at a taste test."
Mueller says no California tap water will be tasted because there's no regional contest in the state.
Water samples from 19 competing utilities include Louisville, Kentucky, Toronto and New York City.
Mueller says the conference also offers educational sessions on various topics including water reuse.
"There will also be a couple of sessions where they discuss desalination," Mueller says. "Which is I know another topic that folks in San Diego are very interested in right now."
She says there's also a free career fair Tuesday.
Mueller says the latest and most significant water technology in the world will be showcased at the event.
