Dix Hills Water Knocked Out in Taste-Test

Dix Hills no longer has the title of "Best-Tasting" drinking water.

This year’s prize for the favorite tap water in Suffolk County slipped out of Dix Hills’ hands and into the Suffolk County Water Authority's during the annual Best-Tasting Water Contest on Tuesday.

The competition, held at SUNY Farmingdale, was between finalists Greenlawn, South Huntington, Dix Hills and the Suffolk County Water Authority. About 100 students drank from cups labeled A,B,C and D. Then, without knowing where the water in each cup came from, voted on their favorite. 

"We’re delighted that our water was chosen for its excellent taste, but our top priority is making sure it’s pure and safe, which we are able to do because our water is tested constantly and surpasses internal standards that are even more rigorous than New York State and EPA regulations," Tim Motz of the Suffolk County Water Authority said.

Dix Hills has a legacy of having the most thirst-quenching water. The local water district has , and even wet the New York State Competition in 2000. However, when samples tested positive for coliform bacteria in December, the water district was required to begin chlorinating its system.

Though the town officials say the , the chlorine has some residents feeling like they're drinking a swimming pool.

In Monday's Patch Poll,

The purpose of the competition, held by the Long Island Water Conference (LIWC) for the past 27 years, isn’t bragging rights, but “to highlight the quality and quantity of tap water throughout Long Island.” That and to remind residents to conserve, protect and get involved to ensure that Long Island’s drinking water “remains clean and plentiful, said Water Conference chairman Frank Koch. 

The LIWC was preaching to the converted on Tuesday. Student after student reported that they prefer tap water to bottled water -- though a number said they us some kind of filtration device before drinking it. 

“It’s good that people are investigating filtration methods,” said Ken Claus, a spokesperson for the Water Conference. “But we recommend that people change their filters regularly -- or the filter itself could cause more problems.”

The Nassau competition is taking place today at the Franklin Square Senior Center.