Water Fair Taste Test Results Are In

Residents in the Joint Water Commission (JWC) Cities of Crystal, Golden Valley, and New Hope compared water samples from four varied sources at a Water Fair Tuesday, March 23. The JWC hosted the Water Fair to provide the community with detailed information about a future water supply. The blind taste test featured water samples from Minneapolis (which supplies the JWC water), Plymouth, Eden Prairie, and Glenwood-Inglewood.

A total of 264 residents (166 from Golden Valley, 59 from Crystal, and 39 from New Hope) completed taste test surveys. In Part I, participants were asked to rate each sample either excellent, good, fair, poor, or no opinion. In Part II, participants were asked where they thought each sample was from.

Two non-resident members from North Hennepin Mediation Service collected the water used in the test from four sites (Plymouth, Eden Prairie, Glenwood-Englewood, and Minneapolis). The mediation service also monitored the actual taste testing. Election judges from the three cities observed and collected the survey forms and conducted the tally of the final results. The results were audited by the Crystal City Clerk.

Part I Results
To simplify the Part I presentation, excellent and good ratings were combined, and fair and poor ratings were combined. Plymouth water was rated 53% excellent/good and 47% fair/poor. Minneapolis water was rated 55% excellent/good and 45% fair/poor. Eden Prairie water was rated 42% excellent/good and 58% fair/poor. The Glenwood bottled water was rated 52% excellent/good and 48% fair/poor. [See Pie Chart] [See Data]

Part Two Results
For Part II, the data showed participants had difficulty in determining which site each sample was from. For the Plymouth sample, 21% guessed correctly; for Minneapolis, 33% correctly; for Eden Prairie, 26% guessed correctly; and for Glenwood, 30% guessed correctly. [See Pie Chart] [See Data]