LEADING THE EFFORT … In the Montpelier Water Filter Room, left to right, are Water Operator Dan Ankney and Water Superintendent Thane Apt. They are the two guys at the top of the food chain, concerning Montpelier’s water. (PHOTO BY DANIEL COOLEY, STAFF)
By: Daniel Cooley
After a few years hiatus, Montpelier is back on top once again, as the world’s best municipal drinking water. The award came from the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Contest, held in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.
A top five is listed every year and of note, Ft. Wayne, Indiana came in fourth place and Hamilton, Ohio was fifth. Coming in second place was the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
The judges also give out awards for best non-carbonated water, best sparkling water and best purified drinking water.
According to Apt, the Berkeley Springs judges, who are different every year (according to the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting website), “judge water on taste, odor, clarity and mouth feel.”
Montpelier has won the contest five times, winning in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2017. Could it have been more? Water superintendent Thane Apt, who has been the water superintendent for four years, said they had not submitted water to Berkeley Springs since 2017. Why, you ask?
“There have been a lot of personnel changes since 2017,” Apt said. So, what is their secret? According to Apt, it starts with groundwater as their source.
“As far as I know, Montpelier has always used groundwater,” Apt said. “I think the biggest thing is the quality of the water itself. We’re pretty fortunate to have a good source.” Maybe it’s also the other source that they use.
“Lime softening helps,” Apt said. “We’re the only one in Williams County who uses lime softening.
After that, it’s just maintaining what has worked. It involves daily testing, monitoring and making sure everything (on the meters) is where it’s supposed to be.”
And then there’s the laboratory, “where we run all of our samples, once a day,” said operator Dan Ankney.
Ankney has served as operator the last four years. Before Apt took over as water superintendent, he was the operator, for three years.
At the water treatment plant itself, it’s just a two man operation, between Apt and Ankney.
And the other area, the distribution department, which, according to Apt, “takes care of the mains” in getting water out to the public, has five employees.
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com