Sherbrooke's tap water is best in province, expert panel rules

Residents in Sherbrooke are drinking the best tap water in Quebec, accordingto a jury made up of water experts and a sommelier.

They tested more than a dozen samples from nine different municipalitiesduring a symposium on water management heldin Lvisearlier this week.

The winning choicewas based on clarity, odour and taste, much like wine is judged.

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The president oftheRseauEnvironment, the groupthat organizedthe fourth annual event, said wine, like water, can have nuances.

"We are under the impression that water doesn't taste anything," said Jean Lacroix.

Lacroixsaid afterdrinkingseveral different samples from across the province, it's clear H2Ohas a taste and every sample is different.

"When we go back home, we don't see water the same way," he said."That's when we actually start tasting water."

Not so secret recipe

ForMichel Cyr, the head of water management in Sherbrooke, there are two simple reasons behind the city's award-winning tap water.

"The first [is] we have a lucky source of water which is MemphremagogLake which is one of the best in all of Quebec," he said.

The other isa unique water filtrationprocess.

"Weinstalled two years ago a new system for watertreatment, whichis a membrane system." Cyr said.

Sherbrooke'swater is filtered through a membrane which blocks out impurities, as well as any bacteria and viruses, said Cyr.The process leaves the city'swater virtually pure.

About 10cities across Quebec use the membrane system to filter their water, he said.

With its win, Sherbrookehas also locked down aseat at the American Water Works Association competitionin Las Vegas next summer.

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Montreal takes the popular vote

The city of Montreal's tapwater may not have won the jury's vote, but it didwin the people's choice award for its taste.

Montreal's water won the honours in a blind taste test where dozens of people attending symposium participated.

Other municipalities also won awards for their high quality of drinking water, including Quebec City, Rouyn-Noranda, Bcancour, Rivere-du-Loup, Victoriaville and L'Assomption.