New York State Department of Health District Director Ron Sheppard presents Potsdam Water Plant Chief Operator Robert Henninger with a certificate acknowledging the village’s water as the best in St. Lawrence County for 2016. With them, from left, are water plant personnel Brian Drake, James Blackmore, Sheppard, Henninger, Corey Sheldon, Brian Paige, and Jon Meashaw. NorthCountryNow photo by Craig Freilich.

POTSDAM – The Village of Potsdam’s water has been judged the best in St. Lawrence County for 2016 in a blind taste test.

The village earned the first-place finish in a public taste test conducted during Summer Festival.

More than 40 tasters were chosen at random, each trying four samples of water, from Potsdam, Canton, Ogdensburg and Morristown. Water systems from around the county were invited to participate.

“I think the residents of the village would be proud to know their water was picked as the best in the county,” said Water Plant Chief Operator Robert Henninger.

Potsdam’s water will be entered in a regional contest in Lake Placid on Friday, and the winner from that competition will be entered in the judging with water from other municipalities at the New York State Fair, which begins in Syracuse Aug. 25.