Will County Gazette

The Village of Park Forest earned fourth place in the "Best Tasting Water" competition held at the Illinois WATERCON event in Peoria on Monday. WATERCON is an annual conference in Illinois that brings together utilities, industry suppliers, consultants, manufacturers, and regulators to facilitate exchanges through exhibits, educational sessions, and networking opportunities.

Park Forest's entry into the competition came after it was awarded "Best Tasting Water in the South Suburbs" by the South Suburban Water Works Association. This is the eighth time in 15 years that the Village has earned this distinction.

The Village was represented at the statewide competition by Park Forest Public Works Director Roderick Ysaguirre and Chief Water Plant Operator Wendy Schafer. The competition featured seven participants, with the water judged on taste, appearance, and aroma by a panel. The scoring system awarded up to 120 points, and Park Forest scored 90 points, placing it fourth.

The City of Paris, located in east-central Illinois, won the competition with 103 points. North Park Water serving Machesney Park and Roscoe came in second with 102 points, followed by the Town of Normal with 99 points. Other entrants included St. Charles, Northbrook, and Collinsville.

The winning water from the City of Paris will proceed to the American Water Works Association's Annual Conference and Exposition in Denver, Colorado, taking place from June 8 to June 11.

Ysaguirre and Schafer expressed satisfaction in having the Village's water recognized among the top four in the state.