FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2/12/2026
Town of Colome Ties for Second Place at Great American Water Taste Test
The Town of Colome, South Dakota, tied for second place at the 27th Annual Great American Water Taste Test, held on February 4, 2026, during the 2026 Rural Water Rally in Washington, D.C. The competition featured 41 drinking water samples from across the United States.
Results of the national competition were as follows: First: City of Clinton, North Carolina. Second: City of Colome, South Dakota, and Grand Targhee Resort, Wyoming. Third: Boothbay Region Water District, Maine, and Harmony Farms, Utah.
Colome is a small town in Tripp County, south-central South Dakota. The municipal water system serves fewer than 300 customers and produces an average of 22,000 gallons per day. The town’s drinking water is sourced from groundwater produced from local wells and is managed by Utility Manager Casey Harter.
The Great American Water Taste Test is held annually in conjunction with the National Rural Water Association’s Rural Water Rally and highlights excellence in drinking water from rural and small community systems across the country.
About the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems
The South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems (SDARWS) is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to providing training, technical assistance, and advocacy for rural water and wastewater systems across South Dakota. SDARWS works to ensure safe, reliable drinking water and effective wastewater services for rural communities throughout the state.
Colome Earns Second Place at 2026 Annual Technical Conference
Colome received Second Place at the local state level during the Annual Technical Conference held in Pierre in January 2026.
This marks the third consecutive year Colome has placed in the state competition. Since 2024, Colome has proudly earned First, Second, and Third place honors. Last year’s First Place finish advanced Colome to the National Rural Water Rally’s Great American Water Taste Test in Washington, D.C., where they represented the state of South Dakota on a national stage. Colome continues to demonstrate excellence in water quality and remains committed to providing outstanding service to its community. Their consistent recognition at the state level reflects the dedication and hard work of the team behind the scenes.