The U.S. Conference of Mayors Announces Winning City of the 2011 City Water Taste Test Competition

Mayors Choose Racine, Wisconsin as "The Best Tasting City Water in America"

BALTIMORE, June 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors announced Racine, Wisconsin as the Winning City of the 2011 National City Water Taste Test Competition at the 79th Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland on June 20, 2011. Nearly 100 mayors attending the Conference of Mayors Meeting participated in a blind taste test conducted June 17 to June 19 in Baltimore. Five cities from a field of 73 competed in the third and final Round of competition. The five cites in the final Round were (in alphabetic order): Albany, NY; Denton, TX; Pembroke Pines, FL; Racine, WI; and, Rochester, NY.

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Conference of Mayors President Elizabeth Kautz announced Racine, WI as the winning city this morning at a Plenary Session of the Annual Meeting. The City of Racine draws its drinking water from Lake Michigan. Racine utilizes ultra-violet technology to ensure its drinking water is clean and safe.

Racine Mayor John Dickert accepted the award on behalf of the city. Dickert credited the superior quality of the drinking water to the professional City employees who operate the water treatment plant. He stated, "This award recognizes and affirms the hard work and dedication Racine has to always provide the best to our residents and the world." Dickert received a check in the amount of $15,000.00 along with the bragging rights of having "The Best Tasting City Water in America."

Lendel Jones, Director of Government Affairs for American Water handed Mayor Dickert the award check, and applauded him for his leadership. Ms. Jones stated, "I am honored to provide this award on behalf of American Water President and CEO Jeff Sterba. Congratulations to Mayor Dickert and the City of Racine for having the Best Tasting City Water in America."

Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors earlier stated that the competition provides an opportunity for cities to showcase their achievement in providing clean water to America's cities. He said that local government spent $100.2 billion to provide water and wastewater services and infrastructure in 2008, and nearly $105 billion in 2010. He stated "Our cities are World Leaders in providing high quality, affordable and adequate water supplies. They provide safe water to protect public health, plentiful water supplies for public safety and fire protection, and the water necessary to run the nation's economy."

American Water, the sole corporate sponsor of the 2011 U.S. Conference of Mayors National City Water Taste Test Competition, is a leading provider of safe drinking water in the United States. Using their corporate experience and technical and financial knowledge they work with cities and communities of all sizes to help them solve their unique water and wastewater needs and challenges. American Water helps cities: design and build water and wastewater systems; develop infrastructure plans; upgrade as well as operate and maintain water and wastewater systems and treatment plants that treat water from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

SOURCE The U.S. Conference of Mayors