May 10, 2013 -- The title of tastiest water in Westchester goes to the City of Mount Vernon. The Westchester County Department of Health held its annual water tasting contest Friday in White Plains, where 172 residents sampled water from nine of the county's water suppliers and gave bragging rights to Mount Vernon.
The blind taste test was held in recognition of National Drinking Water Week outside the Michaelian Office Building on Martine Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Mount Vernon, labeled A in the blind taste test, received 47 votes. The runner-up was Briarcliff Manor Village, labeled B, with 29 votes. Elmsford, labeled C, came in third, with 21 votes.
The contest was held to promote the excellent quality of Westchester tap water and to highlight the role of the county health department in assuring drinking water quality.
The experts say a good glass of water should be clean, crisp, clear and cool. The county's health department samples the waters routinely, and they meet all quality standards.
The nine participating water suppliers in this year's competition were: Briarcliff Manor Village, Cortlandt Consolidated Water District, Elmsford Village, City of Mount Vernon, City of Peekskill, Scarsdale Village, United Water New Rochelle, City of White Plains, and City of Yonkers.
The other participants were labeled as follows in the blind taste test today:
- B – Briarcliff Manor Village
- C – Elmsford Village
- D- Scarsdale
- E – United Water New Rochelle
- F – Cortlandt Consolidated Water District
- G – City of White Plains
- H – City of Yonkers
- I- City of Peekskill
In past years, the winners were: 2012 – Cortlandt Consolidated; 2011 – United Water New Rochelle; 2010 - Ossining; 2009 – Yonkers; 2008 – Croton on Hudson; 2007 – Yonkers; 2006 – Croton on Hudson; 2005 – United Water New Rochelle; 2004 – Yonkers; 2003 – Yonkers.
For more information about the contest or other water quality initiatives, contact the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000, follow us on Twitter @wchealthdept or visit www.westchestergov.com/health.