Sugar Grove wins second place in North American tap water taste competition

Sugar Grove has some of the tastiest drinking water in North America, according to an international water works organization.

The village placed second in the annual “Best of the Best” Tap Water Taste Test at the American Water Works Association’s ACE26 conference in Washington, D.C.

The samples were judged by water-quality experts, including a professional water sommelier.

The top spot went to the city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, while third place was awarded to Vineyard, Utah.

“We value providing Sugar Grove with the best possible water, protecting our water resources, and we are all celebrating their win for the community as the stewards of the best-tasting water in the United States,” Village President Sue Stillwell said in a news release.

Sugar Grove first won the Kane County Water Association’s regional taste test.

Then in April, the village won the state title at the Illinois Section AWWA WATERCON convention in Peoria.

The water was judged in blind taste tests for overall flavor and a crisp, drinkable profile; clarity, which assesses transparency and the absence of turbidity (suspended particles); and odor — meaning it should not have any organic or chemical scent.

Entrants also had to have no state or federal drinking water violations during the previous calendar year.

Sugar Grove draws its water from two shallow and five deep wells, which pump about 1 million gallons a day, according to the village’s annual water report. The water is treated with chlorine to prevent bacterial contamination and fluoride to promote dental health. Several of the deep wells use an ion exchange treatment to remove radium and some other elements and minerals.