City of Norman earns another first place ranking at Regional Waste Taste Contest

The City of Norman represented Oklahoma in the 2026 Southwest American Water Works Association (SWAWWA) Water Taste Contest in October, an invitation-only regional competition recognizing drinking water systems for the quality and taste of their water. The contest was held in Bossier City, Louisiana, the last week of October.

Norman earned its invitation after winning the 2026 American Public Works Association/Oklahoma Water Environment Association (APWA/OWEA) Water Taste Contest this past May, securing a place among six water systems invited to compete at this year's Southwest AWWA Conference. The competition brings together previous regional winners, state-level winners and conference host representatives from across the region.

The 2026 participants included the City of Norman, the City of Oklahoma City and the City of Tulsa in Oklahoma; City Corp of Russellville and Central Arkansas Water of Little Rock in Arkansas; and Baton Rouge Water Company in Louisiana.

During the competition, a panel of three judges evaluated water samples based on flavor characteristics, using a 10-point scoring scale. Samples must represent water routinely produced and distributed by each participating utility and are served at room temperature to ensure a consistent tasting experience.

"Being invited back to compete after our 2025 win is a tremendous honor for the City of Norman and our Utilities team," said Chris Mattingly, Director of Utilities at the City of Norman. "To win again is even more special. Providing safe, high-quality drinking water is our top priority, and this competition gives us an opportunity to showcase the dedication and expertise that go into delivering water to our community every day."

As the 2026 regional winner, Norman will also have the opportunity to compete at the American Water Works Association's (AWWA) Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE) in San Diego, California, in 2027. There, Norman will compete against approximately 40 regional winners from across the country for the title of national water taste champion.

The SWAWWA Water Taste Contest highlights the work of water utilities throughout the region and celebrates the importance of delivering quality drinking water to the communities they serve. To learn more about water treatment processes at the City of Norman, visit Normanok.gov/your-government/departments/utilities.

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