Fredericton’s tap water named best in North America in taste test

A panel of expert judges has declared Fredericton's tap water the best in North America, based on its taste, aroma, and consistency. Trent Brewer, manager of H2O Fredericton, the city's water and sewer division, expressed pride in the city's water system, stating it's the result of years of investment by city council. The honor was bestowed upon Fredericton by the American Water Works Association at its annual conference in June, where it was voted the best out of 32 regional winners by a team of professionally trained flavour profilers.

The city's water is sourced from 11 production wells, which draw from an aquifer beneath downtown Fredericton. Trent Brewer attributes the city's success to the quality of its groundwater, which is naturally filtered from the St. John River down to the wells. Kerry MacQuarrie, a civil engineering professor, explains that the taste of the water comes from the dissolved mineral content of the groundwater.

The water is treated at one of two treatment plants, where chlorine is added to remove manganese and disinfect it, and lime is used to adjust the pH and remove other solids. Water sampled weekly at about 50 locations is sent to an independent lab to ensure it meets Canadian drinking water guidelines. The city spends roughly $30 million annually on operating and capital work and plans to build two more production wells as the city continues to grow.