Bragging rights for the next year will go to the city of Norman, Oklahoma, for beating eight other cities competing in the Oklahoma Water Pollution Control Association’s (OWPCA) annual water-tasting contest held at Rose State College.

The water samples for the nine cities were labeled by number and judged on clarity, odor, color and taste. The OWPCA featured a panel of judges that included Todd Craighead, host of Outdoor Oklahoma; Leslie Osborn of the Oklahoma House of Representatives; and NEWS 9’s Alex Cameron.

The city of Normal will display its traveling trophy for the next year, and they also advance to the next level of competition slated during the 2018 American Water Works Association conference.

The city of Norman also took home the following individual awards:

Robert Travis — Wastewater Collections System Technician of the Year

Veon Richmond —  Darcey Award as Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year

Kellie Seeds — Wastewater Administrative Technician of the Year

Dustin Cozard — Wastewater Operator Newcomer of the Year

Scott Lewis — Water Plant Maintenance Technician of the Year

Andy Bruehl — Water Plant Maintenance Supervisor of the Year

Rachel Croft — Water Plant Lab Manager of the Year

Tommy Martin — Water Distribution System Maintenance Technician of the Year

Bennie Gilmore — Large Water Well System Operator of the Year

Greg Apperson — Large Water Well System Maintenance Technician of the Year

Clayton Herron — Stapley Award for Water Plant Operator of the Year

Mary Wray — Water System Administrative Technician of the Year

The OWPCA has a rich history dating back to 1926 and has been the source of training and professional development for those who work in the water and wastewater field in Oklahoma.