COVINGTON, Ga. - Newton County’s tap water is the best tasting in the state, according to a contest held by the Georgia Association of Water Professionals.

In the 2019 Best Tap Water Taste Test held in Columbus April 25, Newton County came out on top. The test required Newton County to send a sample of water, which was tasted at room temperature by five judges. The water not only was the best in Newton County’s district but the most pleasant tasting of all the state’s water entities up for judgment.

“It’s an honor for our organization to win such a prestigious award,” James Brown, director of Newton County Water Resources, said. “It’s great to work with such a dedicated and inspiring group of people whose goal every day is to produce and deliver the highest quality drinking water to our customers and this award is a testimony to that dedication.”

This is the first time Newton County has been selected for the best tasting water in the state of Georgia. Newton County’s Water Resources Department also received the Gold award, marking no violations for the entire year, for the third straight year.

As the best tasting water in Georgia, Newton County’s water will be matched up against others from around the country in the American Water Works Association Best Tap Water Taste Test in Denver on June 9-12.

Other district winners in Georgia were: District 1 – City of Adairsville; District 2 - Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority; District 4 - City of Barnesville; District 5 - City of Perry; District 8 Savannah I&D Water Treatment.