CHUGWATER — Chugwater proved it has some of the best tasting water in the country when it placed first in Wyoming, then in the top 10 at the Great American Water Taste Test held Feb. 7 in Washington, D.C.
“I told ’em in Washington, ‘I’ll be back,’” Chugwater Utilities Director Steve Kelley said during an interview Thursday.
Kelley theorized Chugwater’s tap water is so tasty because the town doesn’t do anything with it aside from some chlorination. He said Chugwater does not add fluoride.
“It’s just the natural formation it comes from,” Kelley said. “It’s extremely good water.”
Chugwater was voted best tasting in Wyoming in 2017, which gave the town the right to compete in Washington in February. The Great American Water Taste Test is sponsored by the National Rural Water Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to training and supporting water professionals who serve small communities across the country, according to the nonprofit’s website at nrwa.org.
Kelley said the Wyoming Rural Water Association provides technical training and on-site training. He said he’s had WRWA experts come to Chugwater for quite a few situations, and the organization provides him with all of his training. Kelley has been utilities director in Chugwater 19 years.
Kelley said he’s been entering Chugwater tap water in the taste test contest 15 years — about as long as the contest has been held — but last year was the first time Chugwater’s water was voted best tasting in Wyoming. He said Chugwater has consistently been ranked among the top in the state, usually the top five, and it took second place for three years in a row before being rated the best in 2017.
“I’m going to keep competing,” Kelley said. “I will compete again this year in two weeks in Casper (at the Wyoming Rural Water Association spring conference).”
The Chugwater Town Council heard the results of the national competition during its regular meeting March 12, according to meeting minutes. In other business during its March meeting, the town council:
▪ Decided to complete an enlargement on the three town wells, contingent upon a check with the State Engineer’s Office for further clarification.
▪ Approved $1,000 to be used for advertising the Chugwater Chili Cook-off, made the town the fiscal sponsor of the event and approved a malt beverage license for the event with the fee waived in one motion.
▪ Approved a budget of up to $200 to purchase a new recorder.
▪ Approved a resolution for Platte County’s 1 percent specific purpose tax question to fund $802,400 for Chugwater’s street reconstruction and equipment.
▪ Appointed Bill Letcher as Chugwater town judge.
▪ Approved payment of February vouchers with the exception of Baker & Associates, which needed to be itemized. Councilor Mary Ann Stinnette’s vote was the only one opposed to the motion.
