Awards

11 Time Medal Winner, Including Best Tasting Municipal Water in the World!

Each February, samples are carefully drawn and sent to the International Water Tasting Competition in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. There the water stands up to international competitors in attributes of appearance, odor, flavor, mouthfeel, aftertaste, and overall impression.

MSWD is the only water agency in the world to have won all three medals - gold, silver, and bronze. MSWD won the Gold Medal in 2020, 2004, and 1999, the Silver Medal in 2011, 2008, 2001, and 1997, and the Bronze Medal in 2025, 2022, 2018, and 2003.

Further, MSWD was honored by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) in 2010 for having won more medals than any other municipal water purveyor in the world. Since MSWD started competing in 1997, it has medaled an unprecedented 11 times.

Get more information about the Berkeley Springs Water Tasting Competition.

So how do we get our water to Berkeley Springs anyway?

1. First, we buy two empty half-gallon bottles. Contest rules specify a particular type of bottle. Since many plastic bottles can leave an undesired taste residue in the water, just before we draw the sample, the bottle is emptied and then vigorously rinsed with our own water three times. We then carefully fill the bottles from our “lucky” well (we’ve used the same well every time we've won), being careful not to touch the rim of the water bottle to anything.
2. The water must undergo various tests, including testing for the PH and chlorine balance levels.
3. Lastly, we clearly label our entry, pack it snugly, and ship the water to Berkeley Springs. We draw the water sample as close to the date of the competition as possible in order to preserve its natural, delicious taste.

We are proud of our award-winning water and are guided by our mission to provide, protect and preserve our most precious resource . . . Water!

Here's What We've Won So Far:

Mission Springs Water District has also been recognized with these additional awards: