The tap water in a small regional town has been named the best in Western Australia after two decades of being labelled as "undrinkable".
Key points:
- An industrial plant that cleanses bore water has helped make Cue's tap water the state's best
- The water was previously unsafe for children and pregnant women due to high levels of nitrate
- The competition ranked water samples based on clarity, taste, and smell
The Water Corporation has received the 2023 IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water title for its Cue treatment plant in the state's Midwest, 620 kilometres north-east of Perth.
The town relies on bore water which contains high quantities of silicone and nitrates.
It made the water unsafe for pregnant women, young children, and elderly people from as early as 2002.
Shire of Cue president Les Price said the award came as a surprise.
"To win the award is a terrific achievement. And I think a lot of that goes to Water Corp for bringing on the new technology that we currently enjoying at the moment," he said.
"We don't have underground water streams, spring water, and things of that nature to help us with clarity."
The Water Corporation installed the plant in 2021 as part of the state government's $24 million program to improve water quality in regional towns.
Another three plants were installed in the neighbouring shires of Mount Magnet, Sandstone, and Meekatharra.
Mr Price said the plants use electrodialysis reversal to reduce nitrates in the groundwater.
"We've ended up with high quality tap water which is healthy, soft, lathers up, and doesn't leave scum marks," he said.
"It's probably a little different to your Perth water.
"We don't have the chlorine content in the tap water. It's pretty much pure water."
Cue knocked Wyndham from the pedestal after it won the 2021 and 2022 competition.
Water Industry Operators Association of Australia chief executive Dean Barnett said judges ranked the samples on their clarity, smell, and taste.
"They were looking for something pleasant on the palate and something that you could drink all day," he said.
The Cue treatment plant will offer up its best drop to the national competition in November for the chance to compete internationally in 2024.
"It gives them bragging rights. Straight off the bat they can say that they have the best-tasting tap water," Mr Barnett said.
The Australian champion will be announced at an event in Victoria later this month.