West Warren-Viola Utility District was recently awarded as the Best Tasting Water in Region 4 in Tennessee. 
The regional water contest, held by the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts, took place at McMinnville’s Park Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 16. The drinking water samples were judged on their clarity, bouquet, and taste.
TAUD Region 4 consists of Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Roane, Smith, Trousdale, Warren and White counties. 
Other utilities from Region 4 submitting drinking water samples for competition were Byrdstown Water Department, Crab Orchard Utility District, DeKalb Utility District, McMinnville Water Plant, Sparta Water System and Warren County Utility District.
McMinnville Water Plant won the contest last year.
Participating as judges for the event were Chris Hampton with Rural Development, Lonnie McCloud with the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, and Jenna Hazelet with Servline.
TAUD will conduct the Best Tasting Water in Tennessee Contest in each of the association’s 11 regions throughout the upcoming months. The winner of each region will participate in a statewide competition in Gatlinburg on Aug. 10. The statewide winner will then represent Tennessee in the Great American Taste Test held in conjunction with the National Rural Water Association Rally in Washington D.C. in February 2018.