Officials at the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water have found the best-tasting water in Indiana. On October 20th, 2021, Auburn Water Department was announced as the winner of a state-wide competition to identify the tastiest rural water in the state. The competition was conducted during lunch on the first day of the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water annual Fall Conference at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Throughout the year, the Alliance held four different regional competitions around the state. The regional winners were: Town of Osgood, Town of Akron, Auburn Water Department, & Town of Madison.

Participating water samples were judged on three categories – clarity, odor, and taste. The competition is part of the Quality On Tap! campaign to emphasize the high quality, standards, and, consequently, taste of rural water. As the winner of the “Best Tasting Water in Indiana” Auburn Water Deparment will advance to compete in “The Great American Water Taste Test,” a national contest, at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in early February 2022. This event is part of the Rural Water Rally, an annual legislative event for the 49 state affiliates of National Rural Water Association.