Washington, DC – The results are in! During DC Water’s blind Taste Test Challenge, 63% of participants preferred the taste of tap water to bottled water or could not taste the difference.

This summer DC Water conducted a series of taste tests in each of the District’s eight wards. Close to 600 participants tasted unmarked water samples and answered questions about the type of water they drink at home. Many residents, including those that said they drink bottled water at home, were surprised to learn that they preferred the taste of tap water over bottled water. The results mirrored the data collected during similar tests in 2012.

“The taste tests are an excellent way for customers to learn more about the affordable, high-quality product that is delivered to their homes every day,” said DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. “And most importantly, the results show that that our tap water is delicious. Why pay more for bottled water that doesn’t taste as good?”

Some participants were shocked to learn that bottled water costs 100 to 1,000 times the price of tap water. At a little more than one penny per gallon, tap water is also an eco-friendly choice. Bottled water production requires large amounts of oil and water, and disposable bottles contribute to landfill waste and pollution in the environment.

In addition, DC tap water meets much stricter water quality standards than bottled water, and DC Water collects hundreds of samples each week to ensure the delivery of high-quality tap water throughout the District. For customers who still aren’t convinced, DC Water offers free water quality testing. To schedule an appointment, customers can contact the Drinking Water Division at 202.612.3440.

DC Water also partners with local businesses in the TapIt program which allows anyone to refill their reusable water bottle for free at any TapIt location in the DC area. For more information about TapIt and the free TapIt Metro DC phone app, please visit www.tapitwater.com/dc.

For more information about the District’s drinking water, please visit
http://www.dcwater.com/drinking_water.