The City of DeKalb Water Division recently won first place at the Illinois Section American Water  Works Association (ISAWWA) State Water Taste Test Competition. The contest was held on April  14, 2024, at the ISAWWA annual water conference held in Peoria, Illinois. The City of DeKalb  competed against other public water supply district winners throughout the state of Illinois. Water  was judged based on clarity, taste, and odor. To be eligible to compete in the competition, the  water supply must be in full compliance with all state and federal Environmental Protection  Agency (EPA) drinking water standards and regulations.  

As winner of “Best Tasting Water in Illinois,” DeKalb now advances to compete against other state  public water supply winners throughout the United States and Canada at the annual National  American Water Works Association ACE24 Conference and Expo held in Anaheim California on  June 12, 2024. The winner of that competition will hold the distinct honor of “Best Tasting Water”  in the nation and Canada.  

This award recognizes the hard work that our staff at the DeKalb Water Division put in every day  to ensure that the water provided to the citizens of DeKalb is not only safe and reliable, but great  tasting as well.  

The DeKalb Water Division is honored to represent the state of Illinois and our great community  of DeKalb at the upcoming national convention and water taste test competition. We are optimistic  we can bring home “First Place” as winner of “Best Tasting Water” in the United States and  Canada!