Wisconsin Rapids Water Works & Lighting Commission Wins Best-Tasting Tap Water Competition

Thursday, September 17th, 2026 -- 8:01 AM

(WAOW & Mike Leischner, WSAU) Wisconsin Rapids Water Works & Lighting Commission won the 2026 Wisconsin Best-Tasting Tap Water Competition, held during the Wisconsin Section of the American Water Works Association Annual Conference at Monona Terrace in Madison.

According to WAOW and Mike Leischner with WSAU, Wisconsin Rapids’ water impressed the five-member judging panel in a blind taste test, first winning the groundwater track and then defeating surface water winner Racine Water Utility in the head-to-head final of the 40th annual competition.

The win earns Wisconsin Rapids the opportunity to represent Wisconsin at AWWA’s Best of the Best Water Taste Test during the AWWA Annual Conference & Exposition, June 13–16, 2027, in San Diego.

“We’re very fortunate to have the water quality we have in our town with the sand country we live in, and I’m really proud of my operators for the filtration job they do with our water,” said Adam Breunig, water superintendent for Wisconsin Rapids Water Works & Lighting Commission.

Wisconsin Rapids draws its water from the sand aquifer beneath the region. The utility last won the state title in 2015. Eleven utilities entered this year’s competition: four groundwater systems and seven surface water systems, with separate tracks leading to the final head-to-head round.

La Crosse was the groundwater runner-up, while Racine took the top spot in the surface water track. Oak Creek and Appleton tied for runner-up in the surface water category. Judges evaluated the entries blind, considering taste, odor, and other sensory qualities.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.