August 26, 2008

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Michael Saucier / Mercedes Padilla (718) 595-6600

New York City Winner of State Water Taste Test at State Fair

“New York City has some of the highest quality drinking water in the world and today’s victory at the State Fair recognizes that. We hope that this event raises awareness of the importance of clean, high–quality drinking water and the massive investment it takes to maintain our system and keep our watershed clean.”

– Commissioner Emily Lloyd

Albany, NY (August 26, 2008) - The New York State Department of Health has announced New York City the winner of the 2008 New York State Water Taste Test. New York City won the coveted title for best-tasting drinking water in New York over 150 other municipal water systems during the final competition held at the New York State Fair in Syracuse.

“I want to personally congratulate New York City on winning this year’s state drinking water taste test,” said Richard F. Daines, M.D., New York State Commissioner of Health. “Once again, this contest demonstrates that some of the world’s best–tasting and highest quality drinking water is found in New York’s largest city. Considering that New York City’s water comes from reservoirs in Delaware, Greene, Ulster, Putnam, Westchester, Schoharie, Sullivan and Dutchess counties, these counties are also winners.”

New York City narrowly beat out 10 finalists in the competition. The Village of Pulaski (Oswego County) took second place in the competition.

The drinking water supply for New York City is managed by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and serves approximately 9 million customers.

The New York State Water Taste Test is a nonscientific competition cosponsored by the State Department of Health and the New York Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to highlight the importance of one of New York’s most valuable resources – drinking water. The State Health Department has regulatory oversight for all public drinking water systems in the state.