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Boothbay Region Water District Named Maine’s Best-Tasting Drinking Water

The Boothbay Region Water District has something to celebrate — and this time, it’s not just clean water, it’s award-winning water.

At the 2025 Maine Rural Water Association (MRWA) Annual Conference and Trade Show in Bangor, BRWD took home first place for best-tasting disinfected water and first place overall, earning the title of Maine’s Best-Tasting Drinking Water.
This achievement puts Boothbay Region Water District at the top among dozens of water systems from across the state — and earns the district the honor of representing Maine at the National Best-Tasting Drinking Water Competition in Washington, D.C. in early 2026.

A Statewide Competition with High Standards

Each year, public water systems from across Maine gather at the MRWA Annual Conference to compete in the Best-Tasting Drinking Water Contest. Water samples are evaluated by a panel of experts based on three key criteria:
  • Color and clarity
  • Odor
  • Taste

Systems with disinfected water and non-disinfected water are judged separately before the top samples face off in a final round. This year, Boothbay’s disinfected water stood out — even surpassing non-disinfected systems, a rare and impressive feat.

“It’s very rare that a disinfected water system would beat out a non-disinfected water system, so I think that’s quite an honor in itself.”

John Orne, Chief Treatment Plant Operator, BRWD

Recognition for a Quiet but Essential Profession

Beyond bragging rights, the competition shines a spotlight on the dedication of water professionals who work behind the scenes every day to protect public health.

“We are an extremely quiet profession — folks don’t brag about what we do, but these are community heroes that serve them every single day.”

Brad Sawyer, Deputy Director, Maine Rural Water Association
Events like the MRWA Best-Tasting Drinking Water Contest help shine a light on the expertise, care, and commitment required to consistently provide reliable drinking water to Maine communities.

Next Stop: Washington, D.C.

With this statewide win, Boothbay Region Water District will move on to represent Maine at the National Best-Tasting Drinking Water Competition

in Washington, D.C. in early 2026 — an exciting opportunity to showcase Boothbay’s water quality on a national stage.

 

BRWD has participated in this competition for years, making this overall first-place win especially meaningful for the entire team.

Follow Our Journey

Award Winning Water

  • Maine’s Best-Tasting Drinking Water (2025)
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