Glenden crowned trans-tasman tap water champion

Published on 06 August 2025

From a quiet corner of Central Queensland to the top of the Trans-Tasman leaderboard, Glenden has officially poured its way into history.

Isaac Regional Council’s Glenden Water Treatment Plant has taken out the coveted 2024–25 Trans-Tasman Best Tasting Tap Water title, beating New Zealand’s national winner in a blind taste test at the 25th WIOA NSW Water Operations Conference in Newcastle on Wednesday night.

The win caps off a remarkable journey for the small mining town of just 300 people, whose water has now been officially recognised as the best in Isaac, Queensland, Australia and New Zealand.

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Kelly Vea Vea said the result was the culmination of months of recognition and a reflection of the skill and care that underpins everyday service delivery in regional towns.

“From the very start, this was about more than just taste - it was about showcasing the pride, experience and precision that goes into delivering safe, high-quality water to a remote community,” Mayor Vea Vea said.

“Glenden’s win is something every one of our 17 communities can celebrate, because it shows that excellence doesn’t rely on size or systems. It’s about people, process and pride in your work.”

The Trans-Tasman showdown saw 50 delegates blind taste samples from Australia’s Glenden Scheme and New Zealand’s Timaru District Council. Glenden’s water received 31 votes to New Zealand’s 19.

The Glenden Scheme, which sources its water from the Bowen River Weir, is manually operated by experienced duo Owen Ruston and David Smith, with support from Stephen Wagner and the wider Isaac water team.

Remarkably, the plant is run without automated systems like SCADA. Instead, Owen and David rely on hands-on methods, decades of experience, and local intuition, including Owen’s now-famous nightly “shower test” and David’s morning tea taste check, both used to flag any subtle changes in water quality.

“While it might sound unorthodox, their approach works and it’s backed up by rigorous compliance testing that ensures our communities always receive safe, clean drinking water,” Mayor Vea Vea said.

Earlier this year, Glenden’s water also ranked 27th in the world at the International Best Tasting Water competition held in the United States placing the small Queensland town on a global stage.

As national winner, Isaac Regional Council will now host the 2025–26 Australian Best Tasting Tap Water competition in Moranbah this December. The Queensland state competition, featuring an entry from Clermont, will be held on 20 August, with the winner progressing to compete in Moranbah.

Mayor Vea Vea said the broader community would have the chance to experience the water tasting fun firsthand.

“We’re proud to bring the spotlight to our region, and to celebrate our frontline operators who rarely seek recognition but absolutely deserve it,” she said.

“Glenden might be a small town, but this achievement is anything but. It’s a story of local know-how, regional excellence and a team that genuinely cares.”

ENDS