"In 1897 Robert Wood realised the value of water. He founded the City of Greenwood at the confluence of several mountain streams in the heart of British Columbia's Boundary Region. Once home of the Elkhorn Brewery and the Lion's Bottling Works, Greenwood water still flows clean and pure from deep wells within the aquifer, and will for future generations to enjoy.
For more than a century the residents of Greenwood have always known their water was the best. The judges at the 2012 Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition agreed! Awarding Greenwood the gold medal for Best Municipal Water in the World." (Text from Greenwood water poster)
Greenwood's award for best tasting water at the 22nd Annual Berkeley Springs Inter- national Water Tasting Competition came about when then Mayor, Nipper Kettle submitted a sample to the West Virginia competition. When the award was granted, CBC News reported on Greenwood's liquid victory.
In the competition, water samples were judged for six attributes:
Greenwood water has the great advantage of coming straight from the underground aquifer, and is not treated with chlorine or fluoride — a practice that is coming under increasing scrutiny from health professionals. Our 'liquid gold' water won the gold medal for best tasting municipal water in the world, with a score of 40 out of 44 points.
St. Henry, Ohio was awarded top honors for best municipal water in the United States.
About the 2012 Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition:
"The award-winning 22nd annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting welcomes more than one hundred waters from across the country and around the globe on Saturday, February 25. Held in the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, it is the largest water tasting competition in the world.
Water Seminar Features Marketing Legend
The 22nd Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting seminar on Friday, February 24 features legendary marketing figure, James M. Stevens. Entitled "Water: Beneath the Surface and Around the Globe," the seminar kicks off weekend activities and offers both the public and members of the municipal and bottled water industries the opportunity to discuss pressing regional, national and global issues with various water experts. Scheduled from 1-5pm, the seminar, and Saturday's official tastings, are held at The Country Inn in Berkeley Springs, WV.
"We're thrilled to have Mr. Stevens speaking at the seminar," said Jill Klein Rone, staff producer of the water tasting. "He introduced Perrier to the United States in the 1970s and is credited with creating the bottled water segment in the beverage industry." Stevens is sharing insights of his expertise in the marketing and distribution of bottled water. He was the COO of Coca Cola Enterprises, President of Suntory Water Group (Crystal) as well as Danone Water Group (Evian, Volvic).
"Stevens is not the only exciting feature of the seminar," said Rone. "Our longtime water master, Arthur von Wiesenberger, is showing video and talking about his recent trip to China." Von Wiesenberger, founder of the Bottled Water Web shares the stage with Michael Cervin, author and senior editor of BottledWaterWeb.com. Their presentation: "The Water and the Odyssey" discusses the booming bottled water market in China as well as their journey to one of the highest water bottling plants on the Tibetan Plateau.
Dr. Kathy Gruver speaks about baineology and the study of thermal water sources for therapeutic purposes. She outlines how early spa-goers would take the waters home to continue their treatment spurring development of the bottled water industry.
On a more local note, Washington County, MD, commissioner William B. McKinley outlines the Watershed Implementation Plan for reducing nutrients and sediment pollution to restore the Chesapeake Bay. Somatic Energies Therapies of Berkeley Springs conducts an interesting "tasting" of waters attuned to the different chakras.
Tasting of municipal waters, followed by purified drinking water, begins at 2:30pm. Bottled waters, both still and sparkling, are tasted at 6:30pm. Winners in all categories are announced at a public awards reception at 8pm. Judges are trained to rate the waters on attributes of taste, smell and clarity by founding watermaster and internationally recognized water expert, Arthur von Wiesenberger,
"The impact of winning this event is extraordinary for a bottler," said Jeanne Mozier, an event founder. After winning the 2008 gold medal for best tasting bottled non-carbonated water, Martinsburg, WV's Tumai water company saw sales grow exponentially overnight. Berkeley Springs water is in abundance at the events. "With all the different companies bottling water from the springs, Berkeley Springs is entered multiple times," said Mozier, "and that doesn't include the town of Bath in the municipals.'"
