Stuart wins best-tasting water in state competition

STUART — Taste like victory? 

The city won the best-tasting drinking water in the state at the annual Florida Rural Water Association competition earlier this month. 

It's the third time Stuart won the contest, which dates back to 1990. Previously, the city won in 2001 and 2004. 

"The staff at the water facility does everything they can to provide a quality product," Public Works Director Dave Peters said about Water Treatment Facility operator Mike Woodside and his team. "This is another indicator that they do what they say they can do." 

More:Stuart spending $2 million to rid water of contaminants

The biggest change to the water this year came as a result of a new pre-treatment system the city installed, Peters said.

The new $2 million perfluorinated chemical-treatment system was built to remove certain chemicals, known as PFOA and PFOS, that can come from fire-extinguishing foam, nonstick pans and stain-resistant fabrics.

A 2015 test from the Environmental Protection Agency found the city had elevated levels of these chemicals by some wells, like the one located by Martin County Fire Rescue headquarters. The chemical levels in the water were not believed to be at a dangerous level. 

The city now boasts a pre-treatment facility that not only removes PFOA and PFOS, but also has led to better looking and tasting water, Peters said. 

"The benefit was quite remarkable," Peters said, "and quite unexpected."

This year, 30 municipalities competed, according to the association. About 1,700 municipal water systems are members of the association .

Tap-water samples are evaluated at the contest.

Samples were judged on color, odor, taste and "quench factor" by water-industry experts.

Stuart will now take its water to Washington, D.C., in February for the Great American Water Taste Test, an annual event held by the National Rural Water Association.