The Taste Team rated the following blind water samples on a 1 to 10 scale (1 = worst; 10 = best) on these criteria: “appearance,” “odor,” “flavor,” “mouth feel” and “aftertaste.”

TASTE TESTS

Richard Perry rates one of the waters • Testing the waters Water taste test • Meet the Taste Team • Minerals make the water

MUNICIPAL WATER
       1. Northern Kentucky Water District (Fort Wright)
       Average score: 7.9.
       Price: $2.31 per 1,000 gallons.
       Source: Ohio River and Licking River.

       2. City of Lockland (Lockland City Hall)
       Average score: 7.8.
       Price: $2.75 per 1,000 gallons.
       Source: Wells.

       3. Butler County (West Chester)
       Average score: 7.7.
       Price: About $5 per 1,000 gallons (includes $3.28 paid to city of Hamilton.
       Source: City of Hamilton (wells).

       4. City of Cincinnati (downtown)
       Average score: 7.6.
       Price: $1.71-$2.27 per 1,000 gallons.
       Source: Ohio River and wells.

       5. Warren County (Clear Creek Township)
       Average score: 7.5.
       Price: $2.87 per 1,000 gallons.
       Source: Wells.

BOTTLED SPRING WATER
       1. Wild Oats
       Average score: 9.0.
       Price: 1.3 cents per ounce.
       Source: Canada.

       2. Dannon
       Average score: 8.8.
       Price: 2.4 cents per ounce.
       Source: Quebec, Canada.

       3. Evian
       Average score: 8.6.
       Price: 3.3 cents per ounce.
       Source: Evian, France.

       4. Kroger
       Average score: 8.5.
       Price: 1.4 cents per ounce.
       Source: Gap Mills, West Va.

       5. Crystal Geyser
       Average score: 8.3.
       Price: 1.7 cents per ounce.
       Source: Benton, Tenn.

       6. Poland Spring
       Average score: 8.2.
       Price: 2.3 cents per ounce.
       Source: Poland, Maine.

       7. Mountain Valley
       Average score: 7.9.
       Price: 2.4 cents per ounce.
       Source: Hot Springs, Ark.

“WILD” (MUNICIPAL AND BOTTLED)
       1. Northern Kentucky Water District
       Average score: 8.9.
       2. Wild Oats Spring Water
       Average score: 8.6.
       3. Dannon Spring Water
       Average score: 8.3.
       4. City of Cincinnati
       Average score: 8.2.
       5. Evian Spring Water
       Average score: 7.2.