Columbia’s Water Ranks Second Best in the State

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “We love to get the recognition, but of course we have a quality product 365 days a year, every day,” says Jon Sherer, Waterworks specialist for the City of Columbia. For the third consecutive year, the city of Columbia’s water has received top honors in a statewide competition. In 2010, Columbia received top honors followed by first runner up in 2011 and again this year. But, why the difference? “The contest is a fun contest and we really, it’s a subjective contest,” says Sherer. But fun aside, the judges are from national organizations. “The American Waterworks Association and the Water Environmental Association,” says Sherer. So just how was Columbia’s water tested? “The contested is much like a wine tasting, they actually have a group of water and they’ll cleanse their pallet after each different contestant goes through,” says Sherer. Columbia was among 14 contestants. Greenwood and Greenville help round out the top three. Crandall Sims reporting, “Right now in the bays beside of me a process is underway that officials like to call a ‘secret recipe.’ That process has helped the city gain top honors in the state for several years. But the process isn’t exactly a secret, there are a few who know the details.” The city’s water system serves more than 300,000 customers in Lexington and Richland counties through two water treatment plants, one near Lake Murray and the other at the Canal Plant near Riverfront Park. It’s here that the water is filtered and cleaned to make sure it’s safe for you to drink. “Your water should be odorless and tasteless at all times,” says Sherer. If it’s not, officials say their customers are their top priority. “Our customers are our eyes and ears,” says Sherer. But as for who knows the secret recipe behind the award winning water, well we’ll leave that to the officials. “We do like to have school children in a they usually keep our secret for us,” says Sherer.